Garage Door Opener Repairs

Properly maintained, garage door openers will provide years of trouble free service.  However, when there is a problem with them it is now possible to have them repaired, which will save a significant amount of money over the cost of replacing the opener.  As with most things, garage door openers have a small computer in them and in many cases the problem with the opener is related to the failure of some part of the computer. 

Most of the major manufacturers have replacement logic boards, sequencer boards, and radio receiver boards available for their garage door openers.   In addition there are also non-computer related parts available for repairs including chains and belts, as well as components for the motor and electric eyes.  Even original replacement remotes are now available!   In many cases these replacement parts and components are “plug and play”, which helps to minimize the labor costs of the repair. 

The key to repairing the garage door opener quickly and efficiently is to be able to troubleshoot the problem and determine if the problem is related to the computer or another component of the system.  Once that is determined, the technician will be able to determine what part or parts needs to be replaced and make the repair.  Once repaired, the opener will be tested to verify that the opener is working properly and within the technical specifications of the manufacturer.  No longer does a garage door opener problem mean the immediate replacement of the entire system, which is much more expensive than simply repairing the opener.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Garage Door Service

Adjusting Garage Door Limit Switches

Automatic garage door openers are equipped with several mechanisms that help ensure safe and proper operation.  These include the opening and closing limit switches, the opening and closing force mechanism, and the reverse contact mechanism.  All of these are usually set when the opener is installed, but sometimes need to be adjusted.

Be very careful when making any adjustments to your garage door opener or doing any kind of garage door repairs.  Garage doors are heavy moving objects and can easily cause a serious injury.  If you are uncomfortable at all with adjusting the garage door, please allow an experienced garage door service professional to handle the adjustments.

The open and close limit switches control how far the door opens and closes.  If the garage door stops before opening or closing completely, you may need to adjust the open or close limit switches.  Also, if the door closes completely, but then immediately reverses direction you may need to adjust the close limit switch.  What is happening here is that the opener is trying to close the door too hard and reversing safety feature is being activated.

Your owner’s manual will provide the details for your specific opener, but in general you can locate the switch adjustment knobs on the back or side of the opener power head.  They may be behind a panel or under the light cover.  You will probably need a flathead screwdriver to adjust the switch.  Turning the adjusting knob in one direction or the other adjusts where the door stops in the open or closed position.  Make small adjustments and operate the door to check the open and closed adjustments.  Continue making adjustments as necessary.