Despite the Homelink systems on modern cars that connect directly to garage door openers, our customers still seem to lose their garage door remotes and call us for help. It’s not our job at Overhead Door Company of Portland to ask why or how, but rather to remedy the problem, whether the remote is missing or malfunctioning.
Lost Garage Door Transmitter/Opener
If you find yourself stuck inside or outside of your garage, you have some options. Most garage doors have a manual release cord that lets you disengage the opener and lift the door from either side. That can get your car out or in until the repair or service can be completed. A manufacturer can supply a replacement if you know the make and model, but you may need to wait for delivery. However, if you have a model that Overhead Door Company offers, we can get you a replacement quickly.
Using a spare is always an option, but a lost remote can fall into the wrong hands, making resetting your system essential to prevent an intruder from entering your garage and house. Generally, resetting means clearing the memory and reprogramming the system. If you lack the time or technical know-how to do this yourself, we’re happy to help. We service all major brands of wireless keypads.
If keeping track of a remote is a losing battle, consider switching to a smart garage door opener that connects to your smartphone. Through a simple app, you can control your garage door from anywhere. Never leave home again wondering if you remembered to shut the garage door. And if someone in your family loses the remote, you’ll be able to open the door for them from anywhere.
Malfunctioning Garage Door Opener
If you have your remote but it just isn’t working, we’re also ready to help. Garage door openers can be repaired. Several components must function correctly for the remote to work. The most common problems we see occur in the following areas:
- Transmitter: The garage door opener/transmitter does what the name implies—it signals the motor to open or close the garage door. When the transmitter doesn’t function, it often just needs new batteries. That’s an easy fix. If batteries aren’t the issue, the transmitter may require reprogramming. This is a common job for our trained technicians, who can clear the memory and reset your codes.
- Track: You are probably familiar with your garage door tracks as they’re easy to see running along the sides of the door and the ceiling. The tracks house the rollers that raise and lower the door. Tracks and rollers can both wear down over time and become misaligned. Our team can replace rollers and lubricate the tracks to keep the system running smoothly. More severe damage, such as a bent frame, may require the replacement of the full system. We’ll conduct a full inspection and assessment of your system and offer you a choice of solutions. We’ll never try to sell you something new when a repair will work just fine.
- Photo-eye: The photo-eye on your garage door is a critical safety feature and also an area where things can go wrong. The eye projects an invisible beam across the garage opening. If anything breaks that shaft of light, the door won’t close. This ensures nothing in the path of the garage door, whether a bike or a sleeping cat, gets crushed. If the sensor malfunctions, it’s a safety issue both in terms of damage and theft. The skilled staff at Overhead Door Company can repair or replace the photo-eye to restore your peace of mind.
To keep your garage door opener system working efficiently, consider signing up for our maintenance service, which includes a 25-point inspection of the complete door and operating system. We’ll visually inspect every component, looking for signs of wear and damage. The photo-eye and reversing mechanisms will be tested, and we’ll clean and lubricate all parts. If we identify problems, we’ll discuss potential solutions with you so you can make an informed decision whether it’s time for a new system or just new parts. We’ll never try to sell you something you don’t need.
If you do need a new garage door opener, we’ll help you choose the best model for your needs, install it, and ensure you know how to operate it before we leave. We won’t go until we are sure the door is in perfect working order, and you understand the controls.
When your door just won’t work the way you want it to, or if you somehow misplace that remote, contact the experts at Overhead Door of Portland.