{"id":360,"date":"2018-05-29T13:37:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-29T17:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-select-home-warranty.pantheonsite.io\/blog\/?p=360"},"modified":"2026-06-01T03:30:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T07:30:27","slug":"troubleshooting-automatic-garage-door-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.selecthomewarranty.com\/blog\/troubleshooting-automatic-garage-door-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Troubleshooting Your Automatic Garage Door Opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

An automatic garage door opener is a wonderful luxury that makes it easy to stow your car away during unpleasant weather conditions. But when your garage door opener is on the fritz \u2013 or simply isn\u2019t working at all \u2013 that convenience quickly turns to annoyance. Before you call in a professional, try these quick troubleshooting tips to see if you can resolve the problem on your own.<\/p>\n

Common Garage Door Opener Problems and How to Solve Them<\/h2>\n

Check the batteries in your wireless transmitter.<\/h3>\n

It may seem obvious, but dead transmitter batteries are among the most common causes for automatic garage door issues. If you\u2019re able to open your garage door using another remote transmitter or the transmitter inside your home, then you\u2019ve isolated the problem to one specific device.<\/p>\n

In most cases, swapping out the battery on your transmitter is as simple as sliding the back off the remote, popping out the old battery, and tossing in a new one. However, some transmitters may have a small screw holding the battery door in place, so you might need a screwdriver to access the old battery.<\/p>\n

After you\u2019ve replaced the battery, take it for a spin and try to open and close your garage. If it works, you\u2019re set! If it doesn\u2019t, the transmitter itself may be broken and likely requires replacement.<\/p>\n

Make sure the garage door\u2019s path is completely clear.<\/h3>\n

Automatic garage doors are designed to be as safe as possible. To prevent them from harming anything in their way, they\u2019re built to include a reversing mechanism. If your garage door starts to close but stops (or won\u2019t close at all), something may be blocking its path.<\/p>\n

In coastal cities like Biloxi, garage doors are often used multiple times a day while also being exposed to humidity and changing weather conditions. Because of the added wear on moving components, many homeowners consider a home warranty in Biloxi<\/a> for protection against unexpected garage door opener repairs.<\/p>\n

Check to ensure the garage door\u2019s path is completely clear. Move any boxes, toys, tools, and athletic equipment out of the way. Ensure nothing is stuck in the garage door\u2019s tracks. You\u2019ll also want to be 100% certain your vehicle isn\u2019t blocking the garage door or tripping the photo eye sensor.<\/p>\n

In some instances, these photo eye sensors get dirty and require cleaning. If you choose to clean these sensors yourself, be gentle! Photo eye sensors are as delicate as a camera lens and should be cleaned with extreme care. When cleaning photo eye sensors, follow the same practices you\u2019d follow for cleaning a camera lens: a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth with a very gentle touch.<\/p>\n

Look for and identify common mechanical issues.<\/h3>\n

There are other common mechanical issues among automatic garage doors that you may be able to identify yourself:<\/p>\n