Custom Installation
No Job Too Difficult
Fast Fixes
Same Day Service
Colorado Certified
Serving the Front Range
Get A Quote

Troubleshooting, quick fixes, and when to call the professionals

A garage door opener is an essential component of your garage door system. It is responsible for opening and closing the door smoothly, making it integral to the usability of your garage. However, like any other machine, it may occasionally encounter problems that require repair.

Some repairs are quick and simple, and you can do them yourself in a snap. But many require professional expertise and can cause serious injury to those who don’t understand exactly what they’re doing. Knowing the difference and recognizing when you need to make an appointment with a Denver garage technician is essential when working on garage door opener repair.

Garage Door Opener Troubleshooting 101: Things to Check

If your garage door isn’t opening, following these steps will help you rule out common issues and diagnose the problem:

  1. Check the manual lock: The problem may not be with the opener, but with the door itself. A lot of garage doors have a manual lock for added security, so make sure that it hasn’t been accidentally engaged.
  2. Check the garage door opener disconnect: Garage door openers come with a manual disconnect in the case of a power outage. Pull the red rope to disengage the garage opener and try to open the door manually. 
  3. Check the garage door opener remote: A good way to check this is by using the wall-mounted control unit inside your garage. If the door opens easily, you’ll know the problem is with the remote. 9 times out of 10, the remote batteries just need to be replaced.
  4. Check the wall switch: You can do the same as above in reverse. If your remote works, but the wall control panel does not, you’ll know you need to replace that. 
A LiftMaster Garage Door Opener in working condition

Common Garage Door Opener Problems

Though all kinds of issues can arise with your garage door opener, it will typically be one of a few frequent problems. Below, we’ve outlined some common issues and explained how to repair your garage door opener in each case.

Neither the remote nor wall control will operate the opener

In this situation, the problem is almost always the power source being disconnected somehow. Start by checking if the garage door opener motor unit has been unplugged. If that isn’t the issue, the next step is to see if the circuit breaker, fuse, or GFCI outlet powering the opener has been burned out or tripped. 

If neither of these solutions work, it’s time to call in a professional, as the motor is probably burned out and will need to be replaced. 

Garage Door Won’t Close All the Way

If your garage door won’t close all the way, it is likely because the close-limit switch needs adjusting. Different openers have different ways of doing this, but there is typically a screw feature on the motor. You’ll want to turn the screw a little bit at a time until the door closes properly. 

If that doesn’t work, the next likely culprit is the safety sensors. The sensors near the floor of the garage need to be clear of obstructions in order for the door to close. You’ll want to first check for debris blocking these sensors. If this happens frequently, you may want to tighten the brackets holding the sensors and make sure they’re aligned properly. 

If neither of these solutions fixes the problem, you may be dealing with damaged rollers or tracks. These problems will need to be handled by a professional, so call your local garage door opener repairman. 

Garage Door Reverses After Touching the Floor

Just like the issue outlined above, a garage door reversing after hitting the floor is often caused by a close-limit switch problem. You’ll want to adjust the close-limit adjustment screw on the door opener motor in small increments until the door stops in the right spot. 

Motor is Running But Door Isn’t Moving 

If the door is fully open but the motor is still running, the close-limit is probably once again the culprit. To fix it, the close-limit needs to be moved further away from the motor. If the door isn’t moving at all but the motor is running, the door is likely disconnected from the belt.

Fixing that problem is different for each opener, so check your manual for instructions. If you don’t have the manual or are uncomfortable fixing it yourself, it’s time to call in a professional. 

Denver’s Best Garage Door Opener Repair

There are lots of ways that your garage door opener can be on the fritz, and it can really throw off your daily routine when it happens. If your garage door opener stops working, no matter the reason, PNG Garage Doors is here to help get it back on track as soon as possible. Give us a call today for a free consultation.

About the author

A Colorado native, Paul Galligan founded PNG Garage Doors as an alternative to the big corporations serving the Denver Metro Area. Front Range clients needed a local option — someone who could offer competitive pricing without national overhead, personalized attention on every project, and experience with Colorado’s particular weather conditions.