How do I know if my garage door opener needs repair?

An opener usually gives warning before it quits. Changes in sound, speed or how reliably it responds are worth paying attention to, especially if they appear suddenly.

Symptoms and what they often point to

• Motor runs, door does not move: a stripped gear, a disengaged trolley or a broken spring.
• Grinding or rattling: worn gears or rollers, or loose drive and mounting hardware.
• Door starts down, then reverses: blocked or misaligned sensors, wiring, binding hardware or travel settings.
• Door stops partway: springs, cables or binding, before travel settings.
• Remote or wall button stops responding: a dead battery, lost programming, the wall control's lock mode or wiring.
• Slower or labored operation: stiff hardware or a door that has become hard to lift.

Rule out the door first

Many symptoms that look like opener trouble start with the door. A door with weak springs or binding rollers makes the opener work harder and can trip its force limits. Never increase the force setting to make a sticking door close, and never bypass the safety sensors. If you see a broken spring or frayed cable, stop using the opener.

When to book a visit

Call if the problem persists after you have checked batteries, power and sensor alignment, or right away if the door is heavy, crooked or will not stay in place. A repair visit includes testing the opener, the door balance and the safety reverse. Our opener repair page lists what we check.

Read more

• Opener repair quick fixes
• Garage door opener repair

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