In most residential neighborhoods, a garage can be considered a luxury. Another added level to that luxury is an automatic garage door that operates using a motor and remote control system. The average motorized garage door will last approximately 15 years with normal wear and tear. Regular maintenance can raise the number by a few years, but parts tend to break more often after that time. Common issues can still arise even with rigorous maintenance, so it's a good idea to learn the signs of malfunctioning and how to fix them if possible.

Remotes

A remote that is not working is one of the common problems that you may experience with the garage door. The first thing you should do is swap out the batteries for new ones. If this doesn't work, the remote itself may be damaged and need to be repaired. Contact the manufacturer to inquire about ordering a replacement remote control.

Tracks

Every garage door, no matter if it is manual or automatic, is designed to run on tracks. Some tracks pull it to side and along the wall, while other door systems pull it up along the ceiling of the building. Attached to the door are wheels that move the door through the tracks. When the tracks are clogged or damaged, the wheels won't move. Find the spot that the door won't go past and check the tracks for problems in that area. Dents will need to be repaired. Clogs like nests or debris should be removed immediately. This should help the door move smoothly again.

Wheels

Speaking of wheels, they can also cause trouble with the garage door system. Years of rolling through dirty tracks will cause the wheels to become sticky. This slows down or even stops them from moving at all. You can clean the wheels using a basic soap and water solution. This should fix the issue of dirty wheels. However, if the wheels are loose or damaged, they will need to be fixed or swapped with a new wheel.

Photo Eyes

Each side of the door frame will have photo eyes near the top and the bottom of the frame. The photo eyes are a safety measure that stops the door from shutting when anything is across that path. If the door is open and you cannot get it to close, there may be something blocking the path of the photo eyes. Check each one to see if any debris or object is sticking out in front of them. You may also need to clean them if they have become dirty since this will block the signal as well.

Severe damage to the garage doors or repairs too complex to figure out will require professional assistance. A garage door service would be a great resource to utilize for repairs.

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