Types of Garage Door Openers

Before you determine what’s causing your garage door operating issues, you should identify what type of opener you have. If you’re not already aware of the type of garage door opener you have installed, it’s fairly easy to determine just by inspecting the mechanism. The following types of garage door openers make up the vast majority of openers installed in residential garages. If you have any question of what type of garage door opener you have, contact a garage door repair company for assistance. The type of garage door opener depends on the mechanism used to power the equipment. While chain drive openers are by far the most common type of garage door opener on residential garages, belt and screw drives are increasingly chosen for the advantages they offer.

• Chain Drive Opener: As previously stated, chain drive garage door openers are the most common on residential garages. That’s because they’re inexpensive and easy to install. The problem with chain drive openers, on top of the noise they cause when in operation, is that they wear down relatively fast, especially with frequent use. They’re also much more likely to require professional repairs at some point during their lifetime.
• Belt Drive Opener: Belt drive garage door openers are becoming more and more common across the state. The top reason most customers cite for upgrading to a belt drive opener is the significantly quieter performance they offer. If you’re someone who cringes every time they have to operate their garage door, this could be an advantage. Belt drive openers also last quite a bit longer because there are less moving parts and friction with the mechanism.
• Screw Drive Opener: This type of garage door opener is less common than the above two types, in large part because it’s a costlier investment up front. However, it is also the longest lasting of the three, requires the least amount of maintenance, and is the quietest when running.

Fixing your garage door opener issues requires attempting to isolate the source of the problem. Knowing what type of garage door opener you have is the first step. Next, you need to observe the mechanism in operation (or determine whether it will operate at all) and use the following tips to narrow down the source of the problem.

Tips to Figure Out What’s Wrong with Your Garage Door Opener

1. Check if the Remote is Damaged or Has a Dead Battery

The simplest opener-related issue and the easiest one to resolve is a problem with the remote that you use to power the door itself. Does the garage door still lift and lower when you operate the wall switch? Then check the remote for damage and changed the battery. The remote control may also need to be reprogrammed, as remotes can sometimes become scrambled or wiped due to radio signal interference. A professional garage door repair company can repair, reprogram, or replace your garage door remote for a low price.

2. Investigate the Wall Switch.

If you’ve checked the remote for issues and replaced the batteries, but the garage door won’t operate when you use the wall switch either, then there could be a deeper issue with the switch or motor. First, check your circuit breaker to ensure that the circuit that the garage door is on wasn’t tripped and that the fuse is not burned out. If you locate an issue, fix it. If that doesn’t work, it’s possible that the motor that powers the garage door opener has burned out or worn down. If so, you’ll need to call a garage door repair company to have the unit replaced.  

3. Check for a Blockage of the Safety Sensors

In order to keep your door from lowering when something is blocking its path, there are two safety sensor eyes installed on either side of the tracks, usually near the bottom. If these get dirty or if something like a stick or leaf falls down and blocks one of these sensor eyes, your door will reverse once it gets to the bottom of the track or may just stop halfway down. Check for an obstruction that might be getting in the way of these sensors, and give them a good cleaning with a dry cloth.

4. Inspect for Damaged Rollers

The rollers that move the garage door down the line can also get damaged or rusty, especially if your garage door is on the older side and has been operated a great deal. The excessive friction and resistance that this can cause can make your garage door not run smoothly or reverse midway down the track.

5. Check for Problems with the Opener Mechanism Itself

If none of the above tips apply, then you will have to consider a problem with the opener itself. A sudden increase in the noise level of your garage door opener, especially belt or screw drive openers, is always a telltale sign of a problem. Many operational problems can be due to a faulty or worn-out garage door opener mechanism. If that’s the case, you’ll need to contact a garage door repair professional for replacement.