How to Maintain Your Automatic Garage-Door Opener Your automatic garage-door opener requires periodic maintenance to ensure safe and efficient operation. In fact, because a garage door is often the heaviest and largest single piece of moving equipment around a home, frequent testing and maintenance are especially important. Lubrication requirements and adjustment details are typically found in the owner’s manual. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, you can usually order a replacement copy by contacting an installing dealer or the manufacturer. Some manufacturers even make owner’s manuals available online. All you need is the brand and model number. An inspection of the garage-door springs, cables, rollers, and other door hardware is a great place to begin. Look for signs of wear and for frayed or broken parts. A handy do-it-yourselfer can perform most minor repairs, such as roller replacement, but a qualified garage-door service technician should handle the more complicated tasks.
The springs and related hardware are under high tension and can cause severe injury if handled improperly. Rollers, springs, hinges, and tracks require periodic lubrication. Use spray silicone, lightweight household oil, or white lithium grease according to the instructions in your owner’s manual. Periodically test the balance of the door. Start with the door closed. Disconnect the automatic opener release mechanism so that the door can be operated by hand. The door should lift smoothly and with little resistance. It should stay open around 3 to 4 feet above the floor. If it doesn’t, it’s out of balance and should be adjusted by a professional. Monthly inspection and testing of the automatic opener can prevent serious injuries and property damage. Careless operation and allowing children to play with or use garage-door opener controls are dangerous situations. A few simple precautions can protect your family and friends from potential harm. Never stand or walk under a moving door.
Don’t let children play “beat the door.” Keep transmitters and remote controls out of the reach of children and teach them that they aren’t toys. The push-button wall control should be out of the reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. The button should always be mounted where you can clearly see the door. Test the force setting of the opener by holding up the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door doesn’t reverse readily, the force is excessive and needs adjusting. The owner’s manual will explain how to adjust the force sensitivity. To avoid entrapment, perform the 1-inch reversing test after any repairs or adjustments are made to the garage door or opener. Simply place a 2-x-4 flat on the floor in the door’s path before activating the door. If the door fails to stop immediately and reverse when it strikes the wood, disconnect the opener and use the door manually until the system can be repaired. Here are some of the most common garage door opener problems and their solutions:
If the opener raises but won’t close the door, the safety beam sensor may be faulty, misaligned, or unplugged. An opener that operates by remote control but not by the wall switch is a sign of a short in the wiring or a loose connection at the switch. A remote control that doesn’t work may be something as simple as a weak or dead batteries, an antenna wire on the opener that isn’t properly exposed, or a dead transmitter. If the opener is operating but the door doesn’t open, the problem may be due to a worn gear or chain-drive sprocket, a broken chain, or the door disengaging from the operator. A faulty transmitter, a short in the wall switch, a faulty circuit board, or a stray signal (which is very rare) can cause an opener to operate by itself. If the remote control only operates the door when it’s located 25 feet or less from the opener, the battery in the remote is weak or the signal is poor. A door that reverses while closing or that doesn’t completely open or close is usually obstructed or binding.
This condition can also be caused when the open limit or sensitivity is set wrong. A straining opener usually occurs when safety reversing is activated or the close limit is set improperly.Help me diagnose my automatic garage door opener weirdness February 22, 2013 Subscribe I have a two-car garage with a LiftMaster automatic garage door opener that is misbehaving and it's driving me crazy. It seems to be randomly just opening the door long after it is closed and I can't figure out why. I've seen the other questions about garage door openers but was hoping for some advice specific to my situation.See all 992 reviewsWith this kit and a little time, you can repair your garage door opener.Great kit at good price, but be sure this is all you need!Gear kit is fine but just one warningGarage Door Opener Repair KitWorks for me.Excellent ProductPatience and ordinary hand tools can save you hundreds of dollars.A replacement part - with instructions!This gear kit get the job done, and for less.
Get fast answers from reviewers See all 52 answered questions What do customers buy after viewing this item?Best SellingLiftMaster 41C4220A Garage Door Opener Gear and Sprocket Assembly336Top RatedLiftMaster - #2 Gear and Sprocket Assembly 41A4885-515Lowest PriceLiftmaster 41A2818 Limit Switch Drive Gear and Retainer Kit27Need customer service? Maintenance of your B&D garage door and opener is critical to ensuring its smooth, quiet, reliable operation, and in most cases is necessary to ensure your warranty remains valid. COLORBOND AND COLOURED STEEL FINISH DOORS Your coloured steel door has been pre-painted with a silicone modified polyester formulation, which is one of the best paint films available today. However good a product may be, all exposed surfaces require some attention to guard against corrosion and any other harmful atmospheric effects. Washing the door with clean water and a cloth every 14 days is recommended. More frequent washing is advised in salty or industrial fallout areas.
Remember, when you think of cleaning your car… clean your door! NOTE: DO NOT WASH THE AUTOMATIC OPENER, IT WILL VOID THE WARRANTY AND COULD CAUSE ELECTROCUTION. B&D recommends that you check the operation of your door at least every three to six months (more regularly in extreme environments or frequent use). The effort required to manually open and to manually close the door should be about the same (if door has an automatic opener, put into manual mode before testing door). NOTE: IF CORRECT MAINTENANCE & SERVICING ARE NOT CARRIED OUT, WARRANTY MAY BE VOID.Clean the internal sections of the guide tracks with a cloth dampened with mineral turps or methylated spirits. Polish vigorously to achieve a smooth, dirt and moisture resistant surface, allowing the Nylofelt to glide more easily. DO NOT USE GREASE OR OIL ON THE GUIDE TRACKS.Should be cleaned as per rolling door instructions, but do not required polishing of the internal guide tracks.Sparingly lubricate with an all purpose machine oil.
Also lubricate wheel to axle bearings. No lubrication is generally required, however silicon spray may be used if necessary.Wipe over with an oily rag. Your lock does not require special maintenance, however if the key becomes stiff, a spray lubricant such as RP7 is recommended. Do not grease the lock.Check for wear through by rubbing. If there is fraying or signs of corrosion contact B&D or an approved B&D dealer. These cables are under extreme tension and should never be adjusted, except by B&D Doors or approved B&D Dealers. Check all screws, nuts and bolts to ensure they are secure. It is natural for springs to lose tension. Should the door become hard to operate or completely inoperative, contact your local B&D office, or call the B&D dealer who installed your door. To keep your door running well, it is recommended that your door be serviced by an experienced technician, every 12 months or earlier if required. Contact B&D Doors for more advice on servicing.