Commercially-available garage doors these days look absolutely gorgeous. Once they’re in place, your home’s curb appeal and market value will no doubt increase.
Throw in a dependable garage door opener, and you’ll have an exceptionally-functioning garage door that will last you for a long time.
However, considering that your garage door opener is a motorized device, it could present problems over time and make operating your garage door a bit more difficult than usual.
Sometimes, all you need to fix such issues is garage door opener repair.
However, there will come a time when the problems are bad enough to make you start considering replacing your garage door opener.
Here are some signs that your garage door opener already needs replacing.
It Produces Strange Noises
Most modern garage door openers operate silently.
When the one opening and closing your garage door is squeaking, rattling, or grinding once you turn it on, there is definitely a problem with it.
A garage door opener making unusual noises is not something you can ignore, especially if it happens constantly and is already becoming an annoyance to you and your neighbors.
Call a garage door technician to pinpoint the problem and fix it. However, if the noise continues even after repair, it’s probably time to look for a replacement garage door opener.
It Takes Forever To Open or Close The Garage Door
Your garage door opener has speed settings that you can adjust yourself according to your preferences.
However, if your garage door is opening and closing at a much slower speed than the slowest setting, your garage door opener may already be worn out and having trouble lifting your garage door.
A garage door opener that is having a hard time lifting the garage door can be dangerous, as the weight of the door could easily cause it to detach and result in an accident.
It’s time to retire your garage door opener if lifting your garage door takes it forever.
It Seems To Have A Mind of Its Own
Slow-moving garage door openers are one thing, but garage door openers that open and close garage doors on their own or are simply unresponsive are an entirely different story.
Check if your garage door opener remote has fresh batteries. If it does and the opener is still not responding, it might already have wiring or logic board problems. A garage door technician can check and try to fix it, but replacing the whole unit with a new one would be more convenient.
Vibrations Are Getting Stronger
Being a motorized device, it’s normal for a garage door opener to vibrate a little when in operation.
However, when the vibrations become too strong it makes the garage door itself shudder or threatens to shake loose from where you mounted it, you need to have it checked or replaced before it breaks free and falls to the ground, or worse, on your parked car.
Garage Door Opens Then Reverses Suddenly
If you experience opening your garage door only to find that it is reversing direction on its own, there may be something wrong with its safety sensors typically installed at both sides of the bottom of your garage door.
Cleaning these safety sensors and making sure they line up correctly can address the issue. However, if it doesn’t stop the reversing problem, your garage door opener’s sensors may already be busted and need to be replaced.
Your Garage Door Opener Is Showing Its Age
If you have are still using the same garage door opener for a decade or more, then you have purchased a reliable device, and that you have been very good at maintaining it
However, if your garage door opener is already breaking down more frequently than usual, it’s already an indication of its age. While you can still try to have a garage door technician repair it, replacing a garage door opener that has been in service for ten years is often the wiser and more convenient choice.
You should never ignore garage door opener problems because they could only get worse. If you encounter the signs mentioned above to your homes and real estate , always prepare for the possibility that your garage door opener has reached the end of its run and that it’s time for a new one.
