A self-opening automatic garage door that opens on its own is not only annoying, but it’s also a severe safety risk to your house. If it ever happens or if it happens all the time, it’s well worth it to find out why so you can get your house safe and running the way it should. The article below will guide you through discovering potential causes, identifying the issue, and knowing when to call a professional.
Possible Reasons Behind an Automatically Opening Garage Door
Garage doors possess advanced technology to allow for controlled opening and smoothness. Sophistication can, however, bring about some kinds of unintended malfunctioning. One of the most frequent causes of a garage door opening by itself is interference from remotes. If your premises are located close to highly dense residential places, such as residential estates with shared radio frequency channels, other garage door remotes might unintentionally activate your system.
Faulty or misaligned sensors are a frequent culprit cause. More recent garage doors employ sensors that are intended to prevent the door from falling on an individual or object. The sensors, being obstructed, dirty, or misaligned, will give spurious false inputs and open the door at random.
Moreover, worn-out or snapped wire or faulty control board inside the garage door opener system itself will cause unintentional opening. The circuits inside the system grow old with time, particularly in older systems. A power surge or storm damage may also cause the problem.
Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix Your Garage Door
To find out why your garage door is opening by itself, start with the simplest tests first. Start by checking your remotes that you use to open your garage door. Ensure that none of your buttons are stuck, since a stuck remote will be sending the constant open commands to the door. Test the batteries in your remotes and try the system again to rule out any weak signal issues.
Inspect the safety sensors on the bottom of your door tracks. Clean the lenses with a soft cloth and remove the obstructions in their path. Make sure the sensors are aligned correctly; the indicator lights should be solid, showing correct alignment. If they’re blinking or showing nothing at all, adjustment or repair may be in order.
Next, turn off power to the garage door opener and check the wires. Loose wires or wires that have been harmed in some other way will make the door act erratically, so ensure that all of the wires are secure. If at all possible, visually check the control board on the opener for outside signs of physical damage, i.e., rust or burn marks. Even though there are a couple of things you may observe for yourself properly, do not attempt to repair the control board if you have not been skilled in electronic repair.
Finally, attempt to reset your garage door opener. Many have a “reset” function that will clear saved settings, i.e., remotes or outdoor keypads. Check your instruction manual for instructions. You might be required to reset and then reprogram your remotes with caution so that remote interference is not the issue.
When to Call a Professional for Repairs
While some garage door issues can be resolved through basic troubleshooting, there are cases where professional garage door repair in Boca Raton, Florida, is required. For example, when the garage door opens automatically without consistency or continues to open even after doing troubleshooting, then there could be a more basic problem with the system’s hardware or electronics.
And if you do see loose wires or unusual grinding sounds coming from the opener motor, those are best handled by a professional tech as well. That may indicate excessive wear or damage that needs to be fixed using special tools and knowledge safely.
A technician can also replace older openers with new ones that come equipped with added security features, such as rolling code technology to jam external signals from opening your garage door.
Why Security and Maintenance are Important
The ideal way of preventing surprise issues, including automatic door opening, is by maintaining your garage door system on a regular basis. A few good habits, such as cleaning sensors, remote inspections, and having a professional come to visit once every year, will go a long way in guaranteeing your garage door is performing reliably and safely. The safety and security of a well-serviced garage door are beyond price, especially when it is being utilized as a security barrier for your property.
If you realize issues beyond just troubleshooting, don’t hesitate to contact a professional garage door technician. The sooner you address issues, you are spared from the danger of making things worse and at the same time safeguard yourself with a safe and working home.
