Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top My garage door and opener work reasonably well most of the time -- hot weather or cold. Sometimes when it rains, though, the door "catches" a little bit, at about 2 feet from the ground, and it is enough to cause the opener to stop and re-raise the door. If I stand next to the door and pull down while it is closing, it will close successfully. I can't seem to identify the source of the problem, and am asking for any general tips as to what I might look for or try in order to improve the situation. Most garage door openers have a feature that when they encounter too much resistance, they will reverse. This is to prevent the door from trapping/crushing something that didn't get out of the way (a car, person, or your dog). It sounds like the door isn't jamming completely, but it is just "rough" in one spot of the travel, which kicks the the opener into reverse.
Do you have the option of shutting the door manually? In my garage, there is a latch that lets me disconnect the door from the opener, which allows me to slide it up and down by hand. Try opening/shutting the door hand and see if it feels "tight" at the point where the opener would reverse. If you can identify a spot where this happens, you have something off in your door/track. If not, something is wrong with the garage door opener. If it is the opener, some things to look at: Some openers require periodic lubrication of the screw drive mechanism (not the door track). the manual for it and see if there are any reccomendations for greasingThere may also be crud in it, preventing a smooth travel. The electronics inside the opener that detect a jam may beIf so, good luck One other things to note: Did it suddenly get cold out? Thermal expansion properties of the door and track can trigger problems. My garage door had the same issue sometimes.
There are a couple things to look at: 1) Make sure the track is still aligned properly. The brackets that attach the track to the door frame sometimes come loose, and then there is too much friction on the door casters. 2) Check the bracket that attaches the wheels to the garage door. One of the bolts on mine came out and it angled, which made the wheel angle in the door track. I had this exact thing happen, and here is what was wrong: The track for the door, near the floor, was too close to the wall, so that when it closed, the door got jammed between the track and the wall. It only happened one time out of eight or so. It may have been that something had knocked the track, or something else, but loosening it, and pulling it out a ways fixed the problem. I had a similar problem. A few simple steps seemed to help: Be careful working around the springs. These things can deliver a lot of pain if you make a mistake Go over the door and look for warping, dents, or other damage
Tighten the bolts/screws on all the hinges. If you tighten a part that moves, make sure it moves freely Grease the moving parts of the door, the rollers, the track, the hinges. Since you have the ladder out, blow/vacuum any dust and spiders off/out of your opener Change the opener lightbulbs since you have the ladder out already Check the connections from the switches and safety devices Look (but do not touch) the safety devices. If they appear misaligned, read manual and align and calibrate them Read manual for your door/opener. If that has specific directions follow those instead of my generic steps. Garage doors are not terribly complicated, but like all machines with moving parts they loosen up and need lubing once in a while. This process will get your eyes all over the door and opener and will help spot any damage or problems. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged garage garage-door-opener troubleshooting or ask your own question.Cold weather can freeze your garage door shut temporarily. When a cold snap brings the temperatures below freezing overnight, rain and wind can be the worst enemy of your garage door. If the water gathers under the rubber seal at the bottom of your garage door and freezes, the door could get stuck, preventing you from getting your car out of the garage in the morning. Since the inside of your garage, even if it's uninsulated, is usually warmer than the outside and protected from wind, you probably don't have too much ice to get rid of to open your frozen garage door. Pull the emergency release cord to allow you to manually open your door. This usually has a red plastic handle and hangs in the center of the door assembly near the door. Trying to open the door with the automatic garage door opener can burn out the motor of the device or strip its gears when it can't release the door from the ice.
Pull up on the garage door to see if the leverage you provide is strong enough to break the ice seal. Go outside and scrape ice from between the bottom of the door and the concrete using an ice scraper. This easily breaks up thin ice and can unstick your door. Aim a heat gun at the bottom of the garage door, moving along the entire edge. It might take a little while to slowly heat the bottom of the garage door and melt the ice, but it melts it safely without damaging the door. /Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionCold temperatures can affect how your garage door operates, so it's important to anticipate potential problems that can occur during winter weather. Although not all weather-related garage door issues are preventable, performing maintenance can reduce the chance of you needing emergency garage door service. The team at Automatic Garage Door Repair Service, providing quality maintenance to the Greece, NY, area, discusses how winter weather can result in damage to your garage door.
When the temperature drops, garage door springs are more likely to break, especially if they have frequently been used over the course of several years. Winter weather can result in stiff, brittle metal springs, which can snap under the weight of the opening or closing door. When a spring breaks due to the excessive pressure, it can cause severe damage to the door and its components, possibly resulting in injuries to anyone nearby. A thorough garage door inspection right before winter can make sure any needed repairs are addressed ahead of time. Wooden garage doors, their frames, and jambs can absorb water from sleet and snow, resulting in the garage door parts rubbing together during operation or even getting stuck in place. Ice near the garage door can stick to weather stripping at the bottom of the door. This ice can cause the weather stripping to peel away when the door raises, and it ruins the seal. Keep as much water away from your garage door opening as possible during the winter.
Cold weather can also affect the metal frames on the door, causing the door to become stuck in the track. A silicone-based garage door lubricant applied before winter can keep your door running smoothly. The emergency garage door service professionals at Automatic Garage Door Repair Service have over 35 years of experience providing repairs and installation. Give them a call at (585) 663-1180 to speak with a member of the team, or visit them online to learn more about their garage door repair services. When to Call a Professional for Garage Door Repairs If you’re handy around the house, there are probably a lot of issues you would rather fix yourself. But when the garage door malfunctions, it can be dangerous to DIY. Top 3 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Garage Door Opener You don’t need any more hassle when leaving the house in the morning or returning after a long day. Having a garage door opener installed can make your life easier by eliminating the...read more