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Overhead Door Company of Lycoming County in Williamsport, PA, has seen it all when it comes to garage door problems. Malfunctions can be caused by a number of issues, including faulty transmitters, dirty sensors, or bad batteries. If your overhead door isn’t working, here are a few things to look for.

5 Things To Do When Your Garage Door Is Malfunctioning

1. Make Sure Nothing Is Blocking The Door

Overhead doors made after 1993 come with a safety measure that prevents them from closing if anything is blocking them. Look for any item that could impede the door from shutting. Sometimes, the “malfunction” is as simple as a misplaced skateboard, basketball, or tool.

2. Visually Inspect The Sensors

garage doorsPhoto sensors are a safety feature that prevents your door from closing if a child, pet, or another object is in the way.  The sensors emit an invisible beam from one side of the door to the other.  On occasion, however, the lenses on the sensors can be misaligned or obscured by dirt, debris or foreign objects. If you notice dirt or debris on the lenses, you can clean them with a soft cloth and a mild cleaning solution. If the sensors look bent, you can try gently nudging them in the appropriate direction. However, in most instances, misaligned sensors should be serviced by a professional.

3. Check For Dead Batteries

Another common problem is having dead batteries in the remote, which you typically keep in your car. Try opening your door by using the transmitter panel that is usually located on the wall of your garage. If that does the trick, then you just need fresh batteries in your remote.

4. Check The Manual Disconnect Feature

Garage doors come with a manual override that allows them to be opened or closed in the event of a power failure. Typically, this feature is accessed by pulling a handle attached to a rope near the top of the inside of the door. Sometimes, it is triggered accidentally. If the garage door motor runs normally, but the door doesn’t move, you may need to reattach the manual override cable.

5. Make Sure The Door Tracks Are Aligned

Your garage door runs along two tracks. Occasionally, the rollers can get dislodged or the tracks can get bent. This can be a very serious issue and you should not try to force or operate the door if you hear a harsh rubbing, knocking, or grinding noise.

Garage doors are extremely heavy and can be dangerous to work with, so call the professionals at Overhead Door Co. of Lycoming County if the problem isn’t a simple fix. To learn more or make an appointment, you can reach them by calling (570) 326-4749 or visiting their website.

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