How to identify a garage door problem

A door that reverses while closing can, per Chamberlain, be a blocked or misaligned safety sensor, or an obstruction the door has touched. A door that will not lift or feels unusually heavy can, per Amarr and Chamberlain, be a worn or broken spring. Clopay says a loud bang can be a broken spring.

For noises, Clopay separates them: grinding can be misaligned tracks or worn opener gears; rattling typically points to loose hardware; squeaking or creaking usually means parts need lubrication, or that rollers and hinges are worn. A door that has come off its track will look crooked and jam, and Clopay's guidance is to stop operating it and contact a trained technician. A remote that is dead while the wall button still works can, per Chamberlain, be a weak or dead battery, a lost pairing, or Lock mode.

Some signs appear at the opener: Chamberlain describes an opener with no power at all, or a diagnostic code flashing on the unit. Other faults are in the door's own parts - the springs, rollers, and tracks.

Some symptoms are a reason to stop and call rather than keep trying: a broken spring, a door off its track, or a door that will not stay open. For a garage door problem in West Orlando, Experts Garage Door provides garage door repair.