Why Does My Garage Door Open and Close By Itself?
When a garage door opens by itself, the reason may be less supernatural than you think. Garage doors are electrical systems and rely on wires, sensors and circuits to make your life easier. When something occurs in the system, it can send signals to your operator telling it to open or close your garage door. These systems are susceptible to damage, interference and more, but in many cases, the cause is something you can likely take care of yourself.
How to Fix a Garage Door That Opens By Itself
In the best case, a garage door opening by itself can be annoying. In more serious circumstances, it can place your property at risk for theft, expose your home to the elements or lead to injuries and liability concerns. If your garage door acts like it has a mind of its own, check to see if the answer is something simple. To try fixing the issue yourself, follow these steps:
- Check your sensors: All garage doors manufactured after 1993 have safety sensors included as part of the package. Garage door safety sensors typically mount near the floor or at the base of the tracks and send invisible signals across the opening of the garage. If the sensors fall out of alignment or detect movement while the door is closing, the operator automatically signals the door to open. Check each of your sensors for alignment, and sweep your garage free of any debris.
- Check your opener: Most garage door openers get a lot of use but don’t receive much attention. In some cases, the buttons on garage door openers can accumulate dirt and become stuck, sending repeat signals to your door. Clean all the buttons on your opener using alcohol, and open the housing to clean the connections. Be sure to inspect your wiring for any loose connections, exposed wires or damage. It’s also possible that one of your neighbors uses the same frequency as yours, but with today’s technology, such an issue is unlikely.
- Check the motor: Your motor is the brains of the operation and relies on a circuit board and transformer to keep your door working as designed. If you have a power surge or other electrical issue, it can damage these components and may cause your door to open and close without a command. If you have access to a multimeter, you can use it to test the voltage in and out of these components to see if they’re in working condition or hold the answer to your mystery.
Call the Experts
The most important part of any DIY garage door repair is creating a safe working environment and avoiding unnecessary risks. If your garage door opens by itself and you can’t locate the source of the problem, feel unsafe working on it yourself or need help implementing the solution, reach out to a professional. For expert garage door repair services anywhere in the Nashville or Gallatin areas, contact EXL Garage Doors today.
Why is My Garage Door So Loud?
Does your door make too much noise when you open it? The reasons for the new racket can vary. When garage doors squeal, bang, rattle and make other unusual sounds, it can be a source of frustration for you and the rest of the neighborhood. Thankfully, in most cases, you can save money — and your sanity — by fixing the problem yourself. Here’s how you can go about taking care of the issue.
How to Fix a Noisy Garage Door
The sounds a noisy garage door makes can differ, as can the causes behind them. Garage doors can rattle, squeal, bang, scrape, grind or make a combination of noises throughout operation. The best way to pinpoint the source of your extra noise is an inspection. Check all your components while the door is stationary, then listen and watch while using your door.
If your garage door is noisy, try these simple DIY fixes to silence it:
- Lubricate your components: Garage doors have many moving parts, and all of them require constant lubrication to perform their best. If your garage door squeals while opening and closing, it could be due to poor lubrication. Inadequate lubrication causes friction, which can also lead to vibrating, grinding and garage door screeching. Spray your springs, rollers, tracks, chain and other hardware down using a silicone lubricant to help quiet the door’s operation.
- Check your tracks for damage: When you open your garage door, the rollers move through the tracks mounted on each side, keeping the door aligned. If the tracks are bent or damaged, they can place pressure on the rollers and create a loud rubbing noise. If the damage is minor, you can pull the track back into place using the claw of a hammer. Insert the claw into the lip at the inside of the track and use it to bend the track back into its original position.
- Tighten or replace any loose parts: Garage doors vibrate when opening, and over time, your hardware can become loose and start making noise. Rattling sounds and squeaking are signs of loose parts, and they’re often something you can easily take care of in a matter of minutes. Inspect your garage door from top to bottom for any loose nuts, bolts, rollers, hinges or chains, making sure to tighten or replace anything that needs your attention.
- Perform regular maintenance: Once you take care of the cause of your noise, help keep your garage door working quietly with proper maintenance. At least once per year, inspect your garage door system for any damage, sounds and signs of wear. Clean any dirt and grime out of your tracks and lubricate the metal hardware, including the springs, bearings and rollers.
Professional Garage Door Care
Place the regular maintenance of your garage door in the hands of a professional. If you own a home in the Gallatin or Nashville areas, reach out to EXL Garage Doors to ask about our garage door maintenance services.