Service
Garage door opener repair and installation
Most opener problems are a sensor, a remote, a worn gear or a door that is too heavy for the motor. Check the simple things first, then decide between a repair and a new opener.
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Check these before you call
- Is the opener plugged in, and does the outlet work? A tripped GFCI outlet in the garage is common.
- Are the safety sensors at the bottom of the tracks lined up, with both lights steady? A sensor knocked out of line makes the door reverse or refuse to close.
- Does the wall button work while the remote doesn't? Then it is the remote battery or programming.
- Is the lock button on the wall control turned on? It blocks remotes.
- Was the emergency release pulled? The trolley has to be reconnected before the opener can move the door.
Problems that need a technician
The motor hums and the door doesn't move. Often a broken spring, not the opener. Look at the spring above the door first. If the spring is fine, the drive gear or the capacitor may have failed.
The door starts, then reverses. If the sensors are fine, the door may be binding on a bent track or a dry roller, and the opener is reading the extra force as an obstruction. Turning up the force setting to make it close hides the problem and defeats a safety feature.
Grinding or a chain that slaps. Usually a worn sprocket or a loose chain, sometimes a stripped gear. These are usually repairable on a newer unit.
Repair or replace
I'd repair an opener that is under about ten years old and has one clear fault, like a sensor or a gear. I'd replace one that is older, has no battery backup, or uses fixed codes instead of rolling codes. A new opener also makes sense when you replace the door, since a heavier insulated door can need more lifting power.
Bob Vila puts opener installation at $218 to $525, about $368 on average, with the unit itself running $150 to $250 for a chain drive, $160 to $450 for a belt drive and $250 to $515 for a wall-mount jackshaft unit. A battery backup adds about $100 and sensors run $50 to $100. How to choose an opener.
Openers in a Colorado Springs winter
Cold makes everything in a garage door stiffer. Lubricant thickens, rubber seals freeze to the slab, and the opener has to push harder. If your door works in July and reverses on January mornings, the door needs lubrication and balancing before it needs a new opener. Cold weather problems.
Common questions
Why does my garage door open but not close?
Usually the safety sensors near the floor. If either sensor is out of line or dirty, the opener won't close the door. Clean the lenses and line them up until both lights are steady.
How much does a new garage door opener cost installed?
Bob Vila lists opener installation at $218 to $525, with a national average of about $368. Wall-mount units and smart features cost more.
Is a belt drive worth it?
If there is a bedroom over or next to the garage, yes. Belt drives are much quieter than chain drives. In a detached garage, a chain drive is fine.