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Garage Doors
Garage Door Rollers
The garage door moves up and down in a track, guided by the garage door rollers. The rollers allow the door to move freely.
You have two choices with the rollers 'Lubricating Garage Door Rollers' and 'Replacing Garage Door Rollers'. Take a quick jump here or read the overview below.
Do you have a different problem? See 'Overhead Garage Door Repair' for a complete listing of the garage door topics.
The metal can corrode and rust. In addition they can seize up. This is a fairly simple job and should be well within your grasp to accomplish.
You may notice the rollers slide in a sleeve that is attached to the door. So there are two trouble spots. The roller and the sleeve. When the roller does not slide the door will bind. When the rollers stick the door will be difficult to lift.
Take a few minutes an look over this information about garage doors. A typical door will have ten rollers. The chances are good that sooner or later this portion of your garage door will need some attention.
Garage Door Rollers - Information
What Can You Save?
This is an easy job for a service man. The rollers should cost less than $5 each. A $50 service call plus parts would be the minimum. The danger is that the repairman may take the opportunity to try and sell you a new door. They can be quite convincing when telling you about the woes of your current door. A new door could run into the thousands of dollars.
How Hard Could It Be?
Repairing or replacing garage door rollers is not hard at all.
Check the Simple Things!
Lubricating the roller is the simplest thing. Often it will free up a sticking or noisy roller. Check Step One for information.
What Can Go Wrong?
Not a whole lot, unless you decide to take them all off at once and your garage door falls apart. Deal with them one at a time and you should not have any trouble.
Troubleshooting Garage Door Rollers
Did you notice that the garage door rollers were only about three dollars each? That means you could replace all of them for around thirty dollars. I guess the logic would be, 'if one goes bad, how far behind are the others'. Just a thought, since you are all practiced up. Did lubricating them work? Then lubricate them all.
Most of the time you will find that 'Lubricating Garage Door Rollers' is the correct fix. This article covered the procedure.
If you found that your rollers were seized or noisy, 'Replacing Garage Door Rollers' was the step that fit your needs.
Summary
Hopefully you were able to take care of your problem with a little oil. Worst case, you had to replace the roller. I know it was not a hard job. In the future you will be prepared to repair other garage door rollers. Well done!
How To Replace a Garage Door Opener
Replacing a garage door opener is a last resort, when other repair efforts fail. Make sure you have checked the previous repair steps before you commit to a new door operator.
Not your problem? See 'Garage Door Opener Problems' and 'Overhead Garage Door Repair' for all the garage door topics.
Garage door openers made prior to 1993 do not meet current safety standards. You may find it difficult to find parts or information for openers that are older than that. If this is your situation, replacing the garage door opener may be a good move. You can get a new garage door opener from a home supply store for about $150 to $200.
There are different types and styles of openers and of course features that cost extra. For a garage door that already has an opener, you may be able to re-use some of the wiring and the hangers for the unit. Installing a new unit is a fairly big job and will take two to four hours if it goes well. Longer if it doesn't go so great.
Set up a table to work on and follow the instructions that come with the unit. Take your time and get some help when you need it. With a little patience you can have a new garage door opener installed in an afternoon. Your garage door opener problems are over.
How To Adjust a Garage Door Opener
Adjusting garage door openers is needed when the door does not close properly. Different units will have adjustment screws in different locations.
Not your problem? See 'Garage Door Opener Problems' and 'Overhead Garage Door Repair' for all the garage door topics.
Does the door close all right, but not open? Two things you can check. First make sure you do not have a broken spring. Examine the springs and make sure that they are still in good condition.
Do you have a broken spring? Go to the article 'Garage Door Spring Repair' for information on what to do. Use caution when working on a door with a broken spring. The springs are OK? Good, see the information below on other adjustments.
Adjusting Garage Door Force
The behaviour of a door with improper force is very similar to a door that has the wrong settings on the limit switches. The limit switches set the travel of the door, both up and down. Force adjusments compensate for the weight of the door. See the article 'Adjusting Garage Door Opener Limit Switches' for information on adjusting the travel.
There are force adjustment screws on the back of the garage door opener unit. There are two screws, one for the closing pressure and the other for the opening pressure. If the opener is not picking up the door properly, adjust the opening pressure until the door lifts smoothly. If the door fails to close properly, you want to adjust the closing pressure.
A word of caution about adjusting door pressure. There are safety features built into the closer to keep it from crushing a pet or a child. Adjusting the force to compensate for a door that is binding is dangerous. Make sure the door is working smoothly prior to making any force adjustments.
Dig out the manual or obtain one for your garage door opener. Adjust the force adjustment screw per the directions in the manual. The screws are fairly sensitive so it should not take to much adjusment to get the door to close properly.
Adjusting the Opener Limit Switches
The limit switches on a garage door opener set the travel of the door. This prevents the door from stretching the springs too much. When the door closes, the opener needs to shut off when the door is seated correctly.
For instructions on setting the limit switches, see the article 'Adjusting Garage Door Limit Switches'.
Adjusting Opener Sensors
If the sensors are misaligned, the door will not close properly. The sensors are a safety feature that make sure there are no pets or children in the way when the door is closting.
For instructions on adjusting the sensors, see the article 'Adjusting Garage Door Sensors'.
Adjusting Garage Door Limit Switches
Adjusting garage door limit switches can be done easily with a few tools. The limit switches control the travel of the door. When the door does not close all the way, the limit switch may be responsible.
Not your problem? See 'Garage Door Opener Problems' and 'Overhead Garage Door Repair' for all the garage door topics.
Troubleshooting Limit Switch Problems
Does the door not close completely or close and then reverse itself? The garage door limit switches may need to be adjusted. It may be obvious when you examine the door what type of limit switches you have. A door opener with a screw drive may have spring loaded switches that shut the motor off when the carriage hits them. Chain drive units may have lugs in the chain that can be repositioned. Some openers have adjustment screws on the unit.
If it is not obvious how to adjust them, find or obtain a copy of your owner's manual for instructions on adjusting the limit switches. Go to the manufacturer's website or try Manuals Online, they may have a copy that you can download.
If the door is closing and reversing you need to set the limit switch so that it stops the door sooner. If it is not closing all the way set the garage door limit switch so that the door goes to the floor. Got them adjusted? Another garage door opener problem solved.
Garage Door Opener Remote Not Working
When the 'Garage Door Remote' is not working it can be an inconvenience. Opening the door from inside of your vehicle is one of the key reasons for having a garage door operator.
Not your problem? See 'Garage Door Opener Problems' and 'Overhead Garage Door Repair' for all the garage door topics.
Checking the Batteries
Does the door work fine with the button on the wall and won't work with the remote? First check the batteries for the garage door remote. Replace them and see if this solves the problem.
With a new battery the signal should be strong. If it still is not getting the signal try moving the antenna or using it from a different position in the car. Does it work now? If yes, you have solved your problem.
Programming a Garage Door Remote
No. Try reprogramming the garage door remote. You will need your owner's manual for instructions on your particular garage door opener. Can't find the manual? Bummer. You can probably go to the manufacturers website to get one.
You will need the make and model number. Or try Manuals Online, they may have a copy that you can download. Still not working, you can get a new remote. Get one the works with your opener.
You will not find much support for a door opener that was manufactured prior to 1993. They are considered dangerous, since they do not have newer safety features. Parts and support are no longer provided. You may need to consider 'Replacing a Garage Door Opener' if your unit is older.
Garage Door Opens Unexpectedly
hen a garage door opens unexpectedly, it can be a little baffling. Three reasons that this would happen.
First there could be a short in the wiring going to the wall control. Check the wiring and look for cuts in the insulation. Replace the wiring if you find any shorts.
The second would be if you lost your remote or it was stolen. It could be that your garage door opens unexpectedly because someone else is opening it, like some kids in the neighborhood. Do you hear giggling after it opens?.
A less likely scenario is that someone else within range has the same frequency. If the wiring is good try erasing all the codes for the transmitters and reprogram the codes. You will need your manual for instructions on doing this. Can't find it? Go to the manufacturers website or try the link for 'Manuals Online'.Follow the instructions for your unit to program the remote.
The third possibility is a sticking button on the wall control. Check and make sure they are working freely. If it is sticking you may want to consider replacing it. They are inexpensive at a home supply store. There are only two low voltage wires connected to it.