Many people take their garage door motor for granted as it works consistently for an extended period of time, often for decades before experiencing any issues that would make you need to repair or replace it. Once your garage motor slows down or stops working completely, it comes out of nowhere and can be a bigger headache at that moment than you might realize. Instead of waiting for this moment to happen and you not having a garage door that works (possibly closing in a vehicle or not allowing one in), it’s best to be on the look out of signs that it’s time to replace your garage door motor. In this article, we’ll go through the 3 main signs it may be time for a new motor.
3 Signs it’s Time to Upgrade Your Garage Door Motor
Shuts Off Completely
If your garage door motor shuts off and will not turn back on or restart, the motor may have an issue where it’s no longer receiving the power needed to operate correctly. You can first try to reset your motor along with unplugging and plugging back in to determine if it’s an issue with the motor not receiving power. Another cause could be fried internal components. Older models usually cannot keep up with the power demand, causing the motor to work harder and harder – ultimately causing a shortage of electrical components.
Slow or Weak Pull
You may notice a screeching or grinding noise when opening and closing your garage door which normally happens when there is excess demand on the motor, which will cause the door to open and close slowly. Eventually, the excess strain on the motor will cause the motor to shut off and not work at all. This could be incredibly dangerous if it shuts off during a cycle as it could collapse causing injury or damage which we always want to avoid. Should you notice a slow or weak pull by the motor, or any peculiar noises, it may be time for an upgrade as this is a sign it’ll likely shut off completely soon.
Flickering Lights When Using
In addition to a slow or weak pull, your garage door motor lights may flicker when the motor is under increased stress from working to lift the door or lower it slowly. Both the light for the garage, as well as the small light(s) on the back of the motor may flicker. This should be an immediate warning sign it may be time for a motor replacement. The longer the flickering continues, the higher the chance of an electrical or mechanical failure.
Conclusion
The typical garage door motor will last between 10-15 years and sometimes last as long as 20+ years. Here at Today Garage Door Services, we recommend a replacement or upgrade every 10 years to make sure you don’t experience a mechanical or electrical failure during use. In addition, you will want to ensure the motor is keeping up with the current power demand especially if you get new springs, cables, tracks, or a new garage door.
We’re Here to Help
We hope we were able to assist in helping determine the source of the air leak. We understand it is frustrating having an issue that isn’t able to be identified easily. Again, should you determine you need a seal replacement or total door replacement, give us a call today!