Arriving home, pressing a button on your garage door opener, and being able to drive straight inside saves valuable time and energy. But how exactly does the whole system work? This guide will tell you everything you need to know about a garage door opener, so you’ll know what to expect when you have one installed or if something goes wrong with yours.

A Guide to Garage Door Openers

The Mechanical Components

The part of the system that does the actual lifting of the door, so you don’t have to, is the torsion spring. The door itself is attached to two curved metal rails and a pulley that guide the door along a track on your garage’s ceiling when prompted by the operator. This motor is also on top, and it determines how far the door will need to move, depending on the size of your garage door.

Garage door openers are also equipped with safety features to avoid accidents. A sensor is near the bottom of the door frame that will alert the operator if something is underneath it as it’s closing. This will cause the garage door to stop and reverse direction. Additionally, an emergency release rope hangs down from the track, which you can pull if you need the ability to open or close the door manually.

Potential Issues

There are four common problems you may encounter with your garage door opener.

• Dead Battery: One of the most common problems with garage door openers is a dead battery in the transmitter. Your operator won’t know to open or close the door if it’s not receiving any signal. 
• Misaligned Track: If the door is getting stuck or seems to be moving with difficulty, the tracks might be misaligned. Gaps and bends in the metal will cause your door to slow down or stop when it reaches the misaligned portion.
• Broken Springs: A garage door that won’t open at all, despite charged batteries in the transmitter and a working operator, is often the result of broken torsion springs. They’re the part of the system that lifts the door, so if these pieces break, the hatch is unable to get it up to its fully open position
• Blocked Door: If your door begins to close and then reverses, the problem is likely with the safety reversing sensor. There may be something small in the way, or the cameras on the sensors may be dirty, causing the door to reverse.

Don’t let yourself get caught in the rain or snow as you fumble to let yourself into your garage. Garage Door Service: Paul Holscher, Mike Panaro in Cincinnati, OH, can install or repair a garage door opener for you. Visit their website to learn more about the services and products they offer, such as spring repair, custom carriage doors, and commercial steel doors. For a free price estimate on your installation, call (513) 347-3000. For more information and tips about garage doors, follow them on Facebook.