Learning About Garage Doors

Your garage door opener is probably one of the most utilized parts of your home. Every day, you use it multiple times as you enter and leave your home. 

Unfortunately, like all other components, garage door openers aren't designed to last forever. With time, they may become less efficient or malfunction, prompting you to seek a replacement. Below are four telltale signs you should replace your garage door opener. 

Intermittent or Unresponsive Opening

If your garage door refuses to open when you press the remote control buttons, there's cause for alarm. First, check whether the remote control has working batteries. 

If the issue isn't with the batteries, the opener could have problems with wiring or the logic boards. While these problems can sometimes be fixed by repairs, the easiest and most reliable option is to get a new garage door opener altogether.

The Noise Is Unrelenting

If you can't open your garage door in the morning without waking up the entire neighborhood, that can be unsettling. Typically, loud noises from your garage door could be caused by various factors, including a faulty motor, spring, or opener. Therefore, have a garage door expert inspect your door to determine the source of the noise. 

Also, it's important to note that traditional openers with chain-drive mechanisms are noisy by nature and the noise keeps on worsening as the opener gets older. In that case, you could replace your chain drive opener with a new modern type of opener for a smoother and quieter operation. 

Your Opener Is Vibrating

An opener that is vibrating may not seem like a big deal at first. But in most cases, it's a sign of a deeper problem, like an old motor with worn-out shafts or bent shafts. 

If ignored, the opener might even vibrate and get loose from its mounting points. If that's the case, watch out as it could eventually break free and drop to the ground. To be safe, install a new opener as soon as possible. 

Your Opener Is Old

Garage door openers usually last for about 10 to 15 years, after which they need to be replaced. If yours is nearing or has surpassed that lifespan, it's time to consider replacing it with a new one.

Even if your old opener is still working normally, it may not have the latest features that allow it to operate efficiently. Modern openers have impressive features that make opening and closing your garage door convenient and safe. For example, some of them are equipped with door sensors to detect when an object is in the door's path. This ensures the door cannot close down and hurt your kids or pets.