Garage Door Opener Repair in Fort Wayne

Why a garage door opener stops working, the safe checks to try on LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers, and what Fort Wayne companies publish about opener prices.

Watch the light on the motor unit when you press the button. On many Chamberlain and LiftMaster openers, Chamberlain says 10 flashes point to the safety sensors, usually because something is in the beam or a sensor has been knocked out of line. Two flashes mean the LOCK feature on the wall control is on, which shuts out the remotes; press LOCK again to turn it off. Other brands use different codes, so check your manual.

The sensors are the two small eyes on either side of the opening, no more than 6 inches off the floor. Clear away anything between them, such as a shovel, a bag of salt or a recycling bin. Chamberlain also says strong sunlight on the receiving sensor can make the opener act as if the beam is blocked.

If the door sticks, binds or reverses partway down, don't touch the force setting. Chamberlain says the force controls must never be used to make up for a door that binds or sticks, because a wrong adjustment could seriously injure or kill someone. A door that is hard to move usually has a spring or track problem, not an opener problem.

An old opener may be missing safety features that are now required. DASMA says openers made after 1992 must have photoelectric sensors or another safety-reverse feature under the federal standard for automatic residential garage door operators, and that one with no reversing feature at all should be replaced. Ask the shop whether repairing or replacing yours makes more sense.

Common jobs

• Openers that hum, click or do nothing
• LiftMaster, Chamberlain and Genie openers (ask which brands the shop works on)
• Safety sensors: lining up or replacing them
• Remotes, keypads and wall buttons
• Worn drive gears and chains
• New opener installation

Have this ready when you call

• The opener brand and model, from the label on the motor unit
• What the light on the motor does when you press the button
• Whether the door moves easily by hand after the opener is released (check this only if the door is fully closed)
• Your street, neighborhood or town

Common questions