Garage door opener remotes provide an easy way to open and close your garage door while remaining in your car. When they work intermittently or not at all, however, this accessory can leave homeowners asking, “What is going on?” Below we explore potential causes and troubleshooting methods that you can try prior to calling a garage door repair service.
Why Did My Garage Door Remote Stop Working? 5 Potential Causes to Investigate and Ways to Troubleshoot
Cause #1: The Remote’s Batteries are Dead
Your opener remote batteries will deplete over time (~2 years) and may need replacing if your garage door is not opening when clicking on the remote.
Solution: Replace your remote’s batteries and test it. In most cases, you will not need to reprogram the remote even after changing the batteries!
Cause #2: Too Weak of a Remote Signal
Check to see how far away you are standing from the door opener. You may be trying to click on the remote while being out of range. Additionally, the opener’s antenna may be damaged, preventing an efficient signal being relayed to your remote.
Do you live near a military base? You could be dealing with signal interference.
Solution: Ensure you are using the remote within the range of your garage door opener. Reference your user manual for this distance. Also, inspect the opener’s antenna is in good condition, free of debris, and not damaged.
If you live near a military base and do not have good range, you might consider adding a radio receiver kit. This will change the frequency your remote and garage door opener operate on, typically providing a better connection and improved range.
Cause #3: Your Lock Button is On
You may have accidentally turned on the lock button on your wall mounted garage door opener, which prevents the remote from working properly. When enabled, the wall console will work once to close the door, and this too will not operate.
Solution: Switch off the lock button inside your garage and test the remote opener.
Cause #4: Your Remote Needs to Be Set-Up Properly or Reprogrammed
After an opener remote loses communication with the garage door opener, it will need to be reprogrammed to work again. Furthermore, some homeowners never properly set-up their remotes.
Solution: Follow the set-up instructions for your particular remote opener. Here are some video tutorials for Overhead Door™ remotes.
Cause #5: Photo Eyes are Blocked or Damaged
Your garage door will open with damaged or blocked safety beams, however, it will not close.
Solution: Inspect the safety eyes to make sure they are aligned. Ensure there are no spider webs or other obstructions. Also, inspect the wiring from the photo eyes to the operator to ensure it is in good condition.
Still Having Issues with Your Remote? Consult with a Garage Door Pro
If you have tried troubleshooting your garage door remote and it is still not working, you will want to speak with a garage door repair team. Overhead Door™ is ready to help get your door and its accessories working again quickly. Call us today!
