Garage Doors – Repair Guide

Garage door opener issues can be the reason why your door won’t close properly, why it opens by itself or reverses.

These problems are discussed in the following articles:

1. How to Fix Garage Door Opener Sensors – explains what to do if the door won’t move in the down direction.
2. How to Fix Garage Door Remote.
3. Garage Door Opens by Itself.
4. How to Adjust Garage Door Limit Switches – explains what to do if the door does not close completely or reverses when fully closed.
5. How to Adjust or Replace Garage Door Opener.

Should you fix the opener on your own or is it better to arrange a service call? The answer depends on your skills, whether you have enough time and want to save.

How much can you save?

Depending on the type of issue, you may save from $50 to $400. If the problem is simple, it is just the cost of a service call ($50 to $75). In case you replace the garage door opener, savings could go up to $200-$400 depending on the quotes of the service company and the cost of the replacement opener.

Is it that difficult?

One of the most difficult steps is locating the parts: you will need time and patience. Many of the problems can be fixed by a total novice, while others will require skills of a handyman (or some help).

Some of the repairs will take you not more than a quarter of an hour. However, more serious issues (when you replace the opener, for instance), will take you the minimum of 2-4 hours to be resolved.

Can anything go wrong?

If only the opener is broken, the worst possible thing is that you will have to open and close the garage door manually.

Before you start

Make sure that you check the most common and simple solutions. Have a look at the GFCI and the circuit breaker, as well as the safety sensors. Are you sure there is nothing in front of the sensors and they are aligned correctly? Check the indicator lights (they should not be blinking). Also, ensure that there is no need to replace the batteries on the remote control.