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Troubleshooting Your Garage Door: A Texas Homeowner’s Guide

Two sets of garage doors on a residential home in Texas.

The average garage door opens or closes about three to five times a day. This would equal about 1,500 times per year. With so much wear and tear on the garage door, it is only natural that minor issues will arise, such as moving parts needing to be lubricated or the photo-eye sensors needing to be realigned. However, most homeowners don’t notice that their garage door needs maintenance until disaster strikes, such as the garage door refusing to open or close.

The trusted garage door repair technicians at Action Garage Door Repair Specialists have faithfully served the DFW Metroplex, Houston, and Austin, Texas areas since our founding in 1984. Our experts have made it our life’s mission to ensure that every home and business owner in our communities has access to reliable and affordable garage door repair, installation, and maintenance services. As part of our commitment to unparalleled customer service and continued education on garage door health and safety, our team has created the Texas Homeowner’s Guide on troubleshooting your garage door. Here is what you need to know about your garage door when it comes to troubleshooting minor issues and when you need an expert to intervene.

Common Garage Door Problems in Texas Homes

Texas garage doors face unique challenges due to our region’s extreme weather conditions. This includes high humidity, intense heat, and severe storms that produce strong winds and damaging hail. These harsh conditions often result in additional wear and tear on various components of your garage door, such as the springs and tracks, leading to potential safety hazards and more frequent malfunctions if not properly maintained.

Here is a list of the common issues that homeowners face with their garage door in Texas:

  • The garage door will not open or close
  • The garage door opens slowly
  • The automatic garage door opener will not work
  • The garage door panels are damaged
  • The garage door springs are damaged
  • The garage door makes a lot of noise when operating
  • There is an issue with the photosensors
  • The garage door parts need to be lubricated 

Action Garage Door Insight: Garage Door Challenges By Region

Wonder how your area puts extra strain on your garage door? Here is a breakdown:

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: Extreme temperatures, such as the incredibly hot summers, expand the materials of your garage door. This leads to thermal stress, which can affect your garage door’s alignment and operation. When winter strikes, the sudden cold temperatures can cause the metal to contract, leaving springs brittle and increasing the risk of them snapping.

Houston: Rust and corrosion are common due to high humidity levels. Areas prone to rust and corrosion are the springs, hinges, and tracks. This can result in a weakening of the garage door’s structure, which makes it unreliable and dangerous. In addition, wooden garage doors that are not properly cared for can become warped due to moisture absorption, leading to increased weakening of the door’s structural integrity.

Austin: The soil in Austin, Texas, is primarily clay soil. This type is more sensitive to moisture changes, leading to a vicious cycle of swelling and contracting. While most individuals will not notice the movement of the soil, building foundations, and consequently, the garage door will feel its impact. Upward pressure from the soil expanding can potentially lift small parts of the foundation. This results in slight movements of the garage door, which can cause the tracks to become misaligned. This leads to a noisy operation as well as the garage door having trouble opening or closing.

What to Do If Your Garage Door Won’t Open or Close

A set of new garage doors on a brick house.

There is a wide range of issues that can result in a garage door being unable to open or close. This includes but is not limited to the following issues:

  • The power source is not functioning properly
  • Something is blocking the photosensors
  • The torsion springs are broken
  • The overhead garage door has come off its tracks
  • The garage door opener battery needs to be replaced
  • There  is debris blocking the garage door from operating
  • The door’s reverse sensitivity levels need to be adjusted
  • The limit settings are not correct
  • The door is “locked”

When your garage door is refusing to open or close, there are a few troubleshooting steps that can be taken to either resolve or reveal where the issue lies. Here is a breakdown of these steps:

  1. Make sure the garage door isn’t locked: It may sound simple, but sometimes the day gets so hectic that individuals forget to open the garage door.
  2. Try to manually open the garage door: This can be done by pulling the red emergency release cable located overhead, at the front of the garage door. This should disengage the opener and allow you to lift and close the garage door by hand. If the garage door opens or closes, this means the issue is with the garage door opener.
  3. Check to make sure the garage door opener is fully plugged into the outlet: Again, this may sound simple, but this is a common issue that is easy to resolve.
  4. Check the circuit breaker to make sure it isn’t tripped: If it has been tripped, then there could be an electrical issue. You will need to call a trusted garage door technician to resolve the issue.
  5. Check the garage door remote batteries: If the batteries have died in the remote, a simple replacement should have it working as well as new.
  6. Inspect the garage door tracks: If the garage door tracks have signs of dirt and debris buildup, then they could be preventing the rollers from running smoothly on the track. Clean these and then inspect for dents, bumps, or warping. If there is any sign of damage, you need to contact your trusted garage door repair specialist.
  7. Check the garage door springs for signs of damage: Broken garage door springs not only leave your garage door stuck but are also extremely dangerous. Never attempt to fix or replace garage door springs by yourself; instead, call the experts at Action Garage Door Repair Specialists, who know how to safely handle the garage door springs.

If your garage door won’t open in Dallas or the surrounding areas, our local team can help. Give us a call at:

Fixing Garage Door Sensor or Opener Issues

Your garage door’s photosensors play a crucial role in ensuring that your automatic garage door can operate safely. This small device prevents the door from closing when there is something, or someone, in the way. These devices are mandatory for all automatic garage doors by law, as they have significantly cut down on the amount of serious garage door accidents.

However, the garage door sensors, like the other areas of the garage door, are prone to run into issues every now and again that could lead to the garage door refusing to open or close properly. These issues are often minor and can be resolved by the homeowner. Here is a troubleshooting guide for your garage door sensor and opener issues:

Step 1: Check to See if the Garage Door Sensors Are Aligned:

The photosensors are located along the bottom of the garage door’s tracks. First, you will want to check the light on the sensor. One light should be green, which means it is sending a beam of light to the other one. The second photosensor’s light should be yellow, which indicates that it is receiving the signal from the first photosensor.

If the red light is blocked, it means that your sensors are out of alignment. This can happen due to minor vibrations causing the sensors to shift or by someone or an animal, such as a dog, bumping into them. Adjust the photosensors until the yellow light remains steady.

Step 2: Check to See if the Garage Door Sensors Are Dirty

Once you have ensured that the garage door sensors are level, you will want to check the garage door sensors for dirt. As they sit low to the ground, the lenses collect dirt, dust, and cobwebs. If the lenses become too dirty, the infrared beam can’t pass through, which prevents the door from closing. Using a lint-free cloth to wipe the lens clean should resolve the issue. 

Step 3: Check the Wiring of the Garage Door’s Sensors

Pests, the elements, or even wear and tear can result in damage to the wires of your photosensors. When this happens, the photosensor’s light may flash orange instead of red. You can inspect the wires by going to the back of your garage door opener and opening the terminal. Make sure that the cables are intact and that none of the wires have become twisted or broken.

If the wires are damaged, you will need to call an experienced garage door repair technician to check the rest of your garage door opener to ensure that there isn’t any additional damage. Do not try to handle the repairs on your own, as this could make the issue worse or result in electrocution.

Step 4: Check the Power Supply

If one or both lights on the photosensors are not coming on, then there may be an issue with the power supply to your garage door opener. This could be due to a power outage, a blown circuit breaker fuse, or the garage door system not being plugged in. Check these areas first. If none of these appear to be the case, you will want to call your trusted garage door repair specialist for backup.

A new garage door on a White House.
A garage door that has been heavily damages.

Garage Door Making Loud Noises Or Jerky Movements? Here’s What to Check

Hearing squeaking or grinding when your garage door opens or closes? This may be an indication that your garage door parts need to be replaced or lubricated. The common culprits behind these noises are as follows:

The Rollers Are Worn Out

As your garage door rollers age, they can cause the garage door to slip out of alignment or off the tracks. This can create a squeaking, screeching, or vibrating sound as it opens or closes. Depending on the type of rollers you have, a simple lubrication could resolve the issue. However, if there are signs of damage, then you will need to have them replaced by a trusted garage door repair specialist.

The Garage Door Parts Need to Be Lubricated

Ensuring that all parts of your garage door are properly lubricated will keep it running smoothly. Lubrications prevent rust build-up and corrosion, which is often the cause of grinding, clinking, or rattling sounds. Make sure you are using silicone or white lithium grease every six months on your garage door’s moving parts. The areas that should be lubricated include:

  • Rollers
  • Hinges
  • Springs
  • Bearing plates
  • Armbar and top rail
  • Door’s lock

Action Garage Door Insight: How Climate Affects Lubrication

When it comes to climate, Houston is known for its high humidity. The heat, along with the excess moisture, often results in the lubrication of garage door parts becoming thin and less effective. In addition, older steel garage doors often suffer from metal expansion, which can cause the garage door to become unbalanced as friction increases. Using higher-quality lubrication can help mitigate these issues and prevent the buildup of rust. 

The Garage Door Is Off-Balance

If your garage door is making scraping sounds, then this is a sign that it could be scraping against your house during operation. If you are hearing banging during operation, it could mean that the garage door has come off the track. Popping sounds indicate snapped garage door springs. 

Other signs that indicate your garage door is off balance include:

  • An uneven appearance
  • Closing after being manually opened
  • The garage door refuses to open
  • The garage door is slow to respond

A garage door can become off-balance due to the following causes:

  • Loosened or aging springs
  • Broken torsion springs
  • Extreme temperature changes caused the belt drive to slip
  • Impact damage from a vehicle

The Garage Door Opener Motor Is Dying

Most garage door openers have a lifespan of 10–15 years. If you are hearing straining, grinding, or buzzing sounds coming from your garage door opener, it is a sign that the motor is dying. Other signs that you need to get your garage door opener replaced include the garage door opener being unable to open the garage door or the door’s movement being slow.

Preventative Tips for Texas Garage Door Performance

A new set of wooden garage doors with window on the top.

Due to Texas’s humid and hot climate, it is recommended that homeowners perform regular maintenance on their garage doors at least twice a year. These garage door maintenance steps should be as follows:

  • Inspection by a trusted garage door repair technician
  • Lubricate moving parts such as the roller and hinges
  • Perform a visual inspection of your garage door for signs of wear and tear, loose bolts, unusual noises, or jerky movements
  • Clean off photosensor lenses to remove dirt and grime

When to Call a Local Garage Door Technician

Some issues are best left to the professionals. If you’re experiencing any of the following problems, your trusted local garage door repair specialists can help.

If you are in the Austin, Houston, Dallas, or Fort Worth areas, then your licensed techs are proud to offer same-day service! Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

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