Garage Door Opener Repair and Installation
When the opener quits, the door itself may be fine. We find out why your opener is acting up, fix what can be fixed and install a new opener when that is the smarter choice.
Common Signs of Garage Door Opener Trouble
An opener problem can look a lot like a door problem, so it helps to know what to watch for. These signs usually point to the opener or its controls:
- The motor runs, but the door does not move.
- The door starts to close, then reverses back up before it touches the floor.
- The remote or keypad stopped working, but the wall button still works.
- The opener light blinks and the door will not close.
- You hear grinding, clicking or a loose chain slapping against the rail.
- The door stops partway up or partway down.
- Nothing happens at all, even when you press the wall button.
Not sure if it is the opener or the door? Call (248) 667-2325 and describe what you see and hear.
What Usually Causes Opener Problems
Some opener problems have a simple cause. Others come from worn parts inside the motor unit. Here are the causes we check for:
- Safety sensors. The two small photo eyes near the floor must face each other. If one gets bumped, dirty or loses its wire, the door will refuse to close or will reverse.
- Remotes and keypads. A dead battery or a lost code is common. Many wall controls also have a lock or vacation button that turns off all remotes.
- A worn drive gear. Many chain drive openers use a plastic gear inside the motor unit that wears down over time. The motor runs, but the door does not move.
- Limit and force settings. If these drift, the door may stop short, press too hard on the floor or reverse for no clear reason.
- Power problems. A tripped outlet, a damaged cord or a power surge can stop an opener or damage its circuit board.
- A broken spring. An opener is not designed to lift a door on its own. If a spring breaks, the opener will strain or quit. Our broken spring repair page explains what to do next.
How We Repair a Garage Door Opener
We test the door before we blame the opener. A door that is out of balance will wear out any opener, new or old. A typical opener repair visit goes like this:
- We pull the release, lift the door by hand and check its balance and springs.
- We check the safety sensors, the wiring and the wall control.
- We look at the drive gear, the chain or belt, the trolley and the rail.
- We reset the travel limits and the force settings.
- We program your remotes and keypad.
- We run the auto-reverse test and show you how to repeat it at home.
You get a written estimate before work starts. If a repair does not make sense for an older opener, we will tell you and walk you through your options.
When a New Opener Makes More Sense
Repair is often the right call, but not always. A new opener may be the better choice when:
- The opener is old and replacement parts are hard to find.
- It does not have safety sensors near the floor.
- The motor or the circuit board has failed.
- The noise bothers people in the rooms above or next to the garage.
- You want features like smartphone control or battery backup.
We install chain drive, belt drive and smart Wi-Fi openers. Belt drives run quieter, which helps when a bedroom sits over the garage. Battery backup lets you open and close the door during a power outage. We service and install LiftMaster, Chamberlain and Genie openers.
What a New Opener Installation Includes
We take down the old opener, hang the new rail and motor, and mount the safety sensors and wall control. Then we set the limits and force, program your remotes, test the auto-reverse and show you how the emergency release works.
Opener Safety Tips for Your Family
Openers sold in the United States since 1993 must include safety reversing features, such as photo eyes near the floor. A few simple habits keep those features working:
- Once a month, lay a 2x4 board flat on the floor in the path of the door and close it. The door should reverse when it touches the board. If it does not, stop using the opener and call us.
- While the door is closing, pass an object through the beam between the photo eyes. The door should stop and go back up.
- Keep remotes away from children, and mount the wall button high enough that small kids cannot reach it.
- Never walk or drive under a door while it is moving.
- If a spring is broken, do not use the opener to lift the door.
Opener Service in Brighton, Howell and Pinckney
Empire Garage Door is family-owned since 2014 and based in Brighton, and calls are answered 24/7. We fix and replace openers for homeowners near Mt. Brighton and all over Brighton, in Howell from the blocks around the Howell Opera House outward, and in the village of Pinckney.
We offer same-day appointments when the schedule allows. Call (248) 667-2325 and we will tell you when a technician can be there, or request an estimate on our quote page. Need help with something other than an opener? See all of our garage door services or visit our home page. If the door itself is worn out, our new garage door installation page explains your choices.
Customer Reviews
See what homeowners in Brighton, Pinckney and across Livingston County say about working with us on our customer reviews page.
Garage Door Opener FAQ
Why does my garage door go back up before it closes?
A frequent cause is the pair of safety sensors near the floor. If a lens is dirty, a sensor is bumped out of line or a wire is loose, the opener acts as if something is in the way. Wipe both lenses and check that both sensor lights are on. If that does not fix it, call (248) 667-2325.
Why did my remote stop working when the wall button still works?
Start with a fresh battery in the remote. Then check the wall control for a lock or vacation setting, which turns off every remote. If the remote still does nothing, it may need to be programmed again or replaced.
Is it worth repairing an old garage door opener?
It depends on the age of the opener, the part that failed and whether it has safety sensors. A worn gear or a sensor problem is often worth fixing. A burned-out motor on an older unit usually is not. We give you a written estimate before work starts so you can compare repair and replacement.
Can you install a smart garage door opener?
Yes. We install smart Wi-Fi openers that let you open, close and check the door from your phone. We mount the opener, program your remotes and test every safety feature before we leave.