What to Do When Your Garage Door Opener Won’t Work

Garage door openers are a convenience that many of us rely on multiple times each day. And we usually take them for granted—as long as they are working. Then one day we press the button to open the garage and find the garage door won’t open with remote. Whether it’s a garage door not opening or a garage door not closing, it’s a huge frustration when you push the button, and nothing happens! Hopefully you’re still able to operate your garage door with the wall-mounted control keypad, but here are some things to try if your keypad works but your garage door opener won’t work. 

 When your garage door’s not opening with remote, the very first thing you should check is the batteries in your remote control. If your remote control has an LED light on it, check to see if it lights up. If not, it’s likely a problem with the battery. These batteries need to be replaced about every two years. It’s a good idea to figure out what size batteries your remote uses and keep an extra battery or batteries on hand in case you need them. You may not have a broken garage door; it might just be an easy battery swap! 

Changing the batteries in your remote is usually an easy project. On some remotes, you can simply slide the back cover off, but others might require a screwdriver to access the batteries. If you recently replaced your batteries, check to make sure you installed them correctly and that the battery tips are connecting properly and locked in place. If you change the batteries and your remote still isn’t working, then you can move on to trying other things.

Check the Power Source for the Garage Door Operator

If you find that your garage door will not close or open with the wall-mounted button, check the power cord on your garage door opener. It’s possible that the power cord may have worked itself loose from the electrical outlet. You can also check your fuse box to ensure the fuse associated with your garage door opener doesn’t need to be reset. If it appears to be a problem with your circuit breaker, please contact a professional electrician and let an expert handle what could be a dangerous task.

Is the Door Locked?

Many garage door openers have a locking mechanism that is usually located on the wall-mounted keypad. This is meant as a security feature, but if this mechanism is accidentally switched on, it may seem as if your garage door opener is broken. Flip the switch, and you’ll be back in action! The locking mode can also be activated by holding the button down on your keypad for several seconds. If your locking mode works this way, you can usually reactivate it by holding the button down again for a few seconds. To confirm how this feature works for your garage door opener, check your owner’s manual.

The Remote Might Need to Be Reprogrammed

This is a possibility when your garage door is not opening with remote but works when you use the wall-mounted keypad button. You’ll need to pull out your owner’s manual; each manufacturer has a different process for resetting or reprogramming your remote. If your wall-mounted keypad has a door, the directions for reprogramming are sometimes also located on the inside of that door. Reprogramming is usually a quick process that involves pushing the buttons on your wall-mounted keypad and garage door remote in a specific order.

Contact Door Systems to Have the Experts Diagnose the Problem!

If these tips don’t work for you, it may be time to call an expert. In Lee’s Summit, MO and the surrounding areas, that means one thing—you should call Door Systems, Inc. Locally owned and operated since 1970, the professionals at Door Systems have the knowledge and experience to quickly diagnose the problem and handle any needed repairs. Give us a call today for a free estimate from the garage door experts you can trust!