You may overlook it half the time. You may only realize how thankful you are for it when you’re having bad weather. But, do you know the time when you appreciate your garage door opener the most?
When it stops working.
For many people, it never stops working at a good time. You’re running late to work and hit the button next to the light switch. You start to walk to your car, then realize the garage door didn’t open.
You go back and hit the button again. Nothing.
Now what do you do? You need to get a garage door specialist out ASAP. But, hey, you can’t predict these things.
Or, can you?
We’re giving you five signs that will let you know it’s time for replacing your garage door opener.
1. It’s Slow-Moving
Chances are, your garage door won’t stop working out of the blue. It’s likely given you signs that it was on its last legs.
One of these signs is that it starts to move slowly. You won’t notice this as much when you’re closing it, but you’ll really see it’s slowed down when it’s opening.
Another part of this category is that it hesitates before it opens. This is another indicator that lets you know it’s time to replace your garage door.
2. It’s Making Loud Noises
If your garage door starts sounding like a freight train any time you use it, it’s time to call a reputable garage repair company.
It doesn’t even have to make loud noises for you to know it’s time to replace it. If you hear a screeching or scraping sound, you need to get it looked at as soon as possible.
3. It Opens, Then Reverses
One of the most common garage door problems is also one of the most frustrating. When you’re garage door opens, then reverses, it can feel like a ghost is playing a trick on you.
But, it’s not a ghost. There’s something wrong with your garage door.
Since 1993, garage door openers must have an automatic reversing feature for safety purposes. They’re sensors you’ll find near the bottom of your garage door track. They alert the system that something is in the way and not to close.
While these sensors work to keep the door from coming down, they still could be the cause for your door reversing when you’re trying to open it.
The sensors could be dirty. If the door keeps reversing even after you’ve cleaned the lenses, it’s time to call a repair service.
4. It Vibrates or Shakes
A garage door that vibrates or shakes isn’t only a sign something’s wrong. It’s even more than annoying. It could be dangerous.
If your garage door shakes or vibrates when it’s in use, it could be a sign something is wrong with the track. The door could come off and crash onto your car — or worse, a person.
5. Sometimes It Works, Sometimes It Doesn’t
If your garage door seems to work when it wants, you have an issue. To isolate a dead remote issue, try opening it and closing it from the wall. If it still works intermittently, you should call someone out to take a look at it.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
You don’t think about replacing your garage door opener until it’s too late. You’re stuck in your garage and risk damaging it by lifting it by hand. In this case, you have to call a repair service.
But, you now know the signs that it’s time to replace your garage door opener.
One way you’ll know ahead of time is garage door maintenance. A garage door specialist should come out at least once a year to inspect your garage door opener.
They’ll be able to determine if anything is wrong with your opener and alert you to any potential issues.
Contact us today to schedule a maintenance call. If you’re in need of emergency repair, we’re open 24/7 to give you the fast and courteous service you deserve.