Home House & Components Rooms Garage
Garage door won't open all the way? Garage door won't open with a remote? Or if your garage door's not working? With a little troubleshooting you can usually avoid a costly service call and get your garage door opener working again in no time. You could have sliding garage doors , glass garage doors , or wood garage doors . Regardless, here's your guide to repairing your garage door opener , winterizing your garage door , doing garage door insulation, how to make a self-closing garage service door , and preventing your garage door opener from becoming a lightning rod ! Gear Helical Right
You can also explore ways to prevent garage break-ins.
Fix: Align or replace the safety sensor
If the door goes up but goes down only when you hold down the wall switch, check to see that the safety sensors are in alignment. The small light on each sensor should be lit up when nothing is between them. Door sensors do go bad, so if no light is showing at all, you may need to replace them. You can save yourself some time by using the existing wires. Also, direct sunlight shining on sensor eyes can make them misbehave.
Fix: Replace the light socket
If the bulbs are OK but don’t light up, you probably have a bad light socket. To replace the socket, you’ll need to remove the circuit board to get at it. Use the same steps as in ‘Replace the Circuit Board’ (above) to accomplish this.
Once the circuit board is removed, pop out the old socket by depressing the clip that holds it in place. Remove the two wire connections and install the new socket. Replacement sockets cost less than $15.
Be sure to use a bulb of the correct wattage. Using lightbulbs with a higher wattage than the socket is rated for will cause a socket to fail. Not only is this bad for the socket, but it can also be a fire hazard. If your light cover has turned yellow from heat, you’re probably using too strong a bulb.
No matter what type of garage door opener you have, you should always lube the rail where it comes in contact with the trolley carriage. Use a lubricant that doesn’t attract dirt. Silicone spray is a good choice. If you have a screw-drive opener, you’ll need to grease several spots along the rail gear at least once or twice a year. In colder climates, use lithium grease, which won’t harden when the temperature drops. Many home centers sell specifically formulated products near the openers. And don’t use too much or it could drip on your car.
Also, explore our guide to repair garage door springs and cables!
Most chain drive openers suggest you tighten the chain so there’s about 1/4 in. to 1/2 in. of slack from the rail to the chain (check your manual). Over-tightening the chain will put excess wear and tear on the shaft and gears. Too little tension could cause the chain to skip off the sprocket and fall down on your car. While you’re at it, learn what you should do when your garage door keypad is not working.
Next: Explore what to do if the garage door opens by itself .
You can also explore our list of upgrades for your garage.
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