Check Garage Door Sensors

The most obvious and easy-to-fix issues would be blocked or covered sensors. Occasionally there is an object blocking the line of sight between both sensors that may not immediately be clear.

Verify nothing is blocking either garage door sensor including dirt or spider webs on either lens. As a reminder, the older the lens, the more sensitive they tend to be.

Once you verify the sensors are clear, move to the next section. 

Check to ensure both the remote and fixed interior opener do not work. Occasionally the issue may be with just one of the openers so it’s important to verify both are not working. If you find the interior opener (fixed to the inside of the garage) works, but the remote is not working, we have a link here where we discuss how to reset the remote or how to get a replacement. If the remote works, but the interior opener does not, the issue is likely due to the wiring to and from the motor which will require professional maintenance. Give us a call to schedule an appointment! 

The last thing to check would be whether or not the motor is receiving power. Usually, the easiest way to determine whether or not the motor has power is whether or not you see light inside the motor or see the exterior light under the motor.

We’ll start with the most obvious issue which accounts for 75% of the calls we get regarding unresponsive clickers. Whether you didn’t realize your remote takes batteries or you didn’t consider a dead battery, a simple replacement battery solves most issues. Most remotes require a mini 22/23 12v battery, while others may require a coin battery. Remove the back or cover of your remote, match the battery type, and replace it. If the batteries are replaced and it’s still not working, move to the next section. 

Recently we assisted a local resident over their phone with their unresponsive remote and it turns out a couple of components were loose which could be fixed easily. The issue we diagnosed was the brackets holding the battery were bent and not drawing any power. To determine if the brackets are the issue, ensure the battery(ies) are fresh and carefully bend the brackets to ensure they are tight around the battery and do not move when you move the remote. 

Hopefully, you were experiencing one of the above issues and your remote is now functioning properly. If you’re still unsuccessful with getting the remote to work, you likely need to replace your remote. The motherboard inside could be expired, the wire inside could be disconnected, etc. 

Dismantling your remote is not feasible for most people due to the fragile plastic and interior components where a simple replacement is the easiest solution. Similar to finding reprogramming instructions, we’ll follow a similar Google search of brand/model/remote replacement – “Genie 2025 Remote Replacement”. If your exact remote is discontinued, a universal remote will work, just make sure it’s compatible with your model. 

We have an in-depth analysis in a different article of different considerations when it comes to choosing your ideal flooring, but we didn’t do a deep dive into the maintenance. Aesthetically, it’s important to clean your floor with water and a proper degreaser that will react well with your floor material. If you’re not sure which degreaser is best, any associate at most hardware stores should be able to help. This will help maintain the appearance of your floor. 

Sensors are certainly the easiest to maintain. Maintenance would include removing any cobwebs on and around each sensor and cleaning the “eye” of each sensor. In addition, use a lightly damp microfiber cloth to clean these to avoid issues caused by scratches or residue build up that has attached to the sensors. We recommend checking the sensors regularly and keep in mind the sensors are fragile so do NOT apply too much pressure when cleaning them. 

Maintaining the track includes both lubrication of the rollers and consistent inspection making sure tracks are tight and secure . We don’t recommend lubricating the track itself , it’s vital to  ensure the wheels have room to roll unimpeded. There is no need to apply heavy duty grease or lubricate the tracks. Instead if dirty you can clean dirt or debris from them. This can help quiet down noisy operation.

Routine inspecting is always helpful. When closing the door from the inside, we always recommend occasionally watching it close in its entirety to spot any areas the track may be bent, cracked, or diverting from the mount. 

Inside of Garage Door

The inside of the door has a metal brace that should always be inspected for any damaged components. In addition, we recommend cleaning the interior of the door on an “as needed” basis. Just like the floor, avoid letting it air dry in a colder climate and manually dry with towels or with the use of fans to avoid any cracking.

Outside of Garage Door

Inspecting the exterior of the door after it closes should allow you to spot any major issues such as cracks or dents. Most hardware stores will sell “sealers” that can be used, just check which product is compatible with your garage door material.