Troubleshooting Tips

Sometimes, the problem is a quick fix.

Check out our overhead door troubleshooting tips to find a solution to your problem. If you can’t find a solution here, give us a call. We’d be happy to help!

As experts in overhead doors, we know a thing or two.

We also know that you aren’t an expert at your doors. So, we compiled a few tips for you to keep your doors operating smoothly, as well as a few common issues that people have with their doors.

When working on your garage doors, it's important to do so with caution and to closely follow all of the directions provided. If, after following the directions, the repair was unsuccessful or if you need a more in-depth assessment, please contact us directly and we'll be happy to help.

While some fixes can be done yourself, the safest and easiest solution is to let a trained door technician handle your repairs.

Common Door Problems + Solutions

The most common garage door problems and fixes.

Need to schedule maintenance?

Problem: My garage door will open 6" to 8" and then close.

Solution: The springs at the top of your garage door may be broken. If so, those will need to be replaced. If it’s been 3 years or more since the springs were replaced, we recommend doing so to keep your door operating at its best. If your overhead door has tubes, not springs, or if you're unsure, give us a call.

Problem: My garage door starts to close, but when it reaches about 6” to 8” to the floor, it opens again.

Solution: This is likely due to a photo-eye alignment issue. Photo eyes are small, plastic devices located about 10" from the floor on both sides of your garage door. These devices are equipped with lenses that emit an invisible beam across the opening of your door. If a person or object disrupts the path of the beam, it prevents your garage door from closing.

To make sure this is the issue, hold down the control button on the keypad inside of your garage. If the door closes, your photo eyes are misaligned.

To fix this issue, first make sure that there aren't any objects blocking your photo eyes. If the area is clear, follow these steps to realign them:

Using a measuring tape, measure from the ground up to the centre of one of the photo eyes.

Next, measure out from the wall to the centre of the photo eye. Write these measurements down.

Take the same measurements for the other photo eye.

Carefully adjust them to the exact same measurements.

Press the button on your garage door opener remote or keypad.

If your door closes, your photo eyes are now aligned. If not, our team is ready and waiting to help.

Problem: When my garage door is closing, it groans, grinds and automatically reverses. It does this a few times before it closes and seals properly. How can I fix this?

Solution: First, determine if your door is unbalanced (see below). If that doesn't seem to be the problem, you may need to improve the seal. Get pipe insulation from your local hardware store and stuff the strip of sealant on the bottom of your door.

If that doesn’t do the trick, give us a call. Our expert technicians will gladly help you out!

Problem: My garage door is jamming and grinding, and it’s really annoying. What can I do?

Solution: Your garage door tracks may be out of line, and will need to be realigned. This can be a tricky task that is better left to one of our Master Technicians. Contact us to schedule a service call with one of our experts.

Problem: Why won’t my garage door operator respond to my keypad, remote control or keyless entry?

Solution: First, make sure that your garage door operator is connected to a power source. If your operator's power cord is unplugged, plug it into an outlet in your garage.

If it's already plugged in, test the outlet with a separate electrical device, like a hand lamp, to see if the outlet is working. If you suspect there's a problem with the outlet, you may need to contact an electrician to fix the issue.

DIY Service Tips

Garage door troubleshooting tips.

Keep your doors in balance.

An unbalanced garage door poses a safety risk and may require an expensive repair if left to worsen over time. Checking the balance of your door is easy.

You should be able to lift your garage door manually with little effort. If you have to force it to open, your door is likely unbalanced and you need to correct it.

Other tell-tale signs of unbalance include strange noises, buckling or bending and the door appearing loose or lopsided when operating.

If you suspect your garage door is unbalanced, here’s how to test it out:

Disconnect your garage door opener by pulling the red-handled release rope hanging near the top of your garage door. This will allow you to open and close it manually.
Carefully lift the door to a half open position.
After making sure that there's nothing in its path, slowly let go of the door.
A properly balanced garage door will stay in the half open position.
If the door closes, the garage door springs need more tension.
If the door opens, the springs have too much tension.

Note: To avoid injury, don't attempt to adjust the tension of the springs unless you're a trained professional. Contact us to set up a service call today.

Keep your doors lubricated.

Is your garage door squeaking, grinding, or struggling to open and close? It may simply need lubricant. To keep your garage door working at its best, we recommend lubricating all metal moving parts at least once a year.

Follow these steps to keep your garage door lubricated:

Grease attracts dust and dirt, so avoid using it. Instead, select a lubricant that's specifically formulated for use on garage doors, such as a silicone lubricant.
Place a few drops of lubricant on each hinge and spring shaft bearing, as well as a bead of lubricant along the top of each spring.
Use a rag to gently wipe away any excess lubricant.