Garage door opening on its own? Here’s 6 things to check

5/27/2021

Garage door opening on its own? Here’s 6 things to check

“Why does my garage door keep opening on its own?” It’s one of the most common questions we at Encore Overhead Doors get asked – but the answer isn’t always the same.

Truth is, there are several reasons why your garage door may open on its own – from a sensor issue to defective wiring. The good news is that we can often identify and repair the issue quickly.

Below are six reasons why your garage door may be opening on its own: 

Sensory overload. One of the most common reasons why your garage door would open by itself is debris near or on the floor of your garage. That’s where the sensor - designed to stop the garage door from coming down in the event that someone or something is standing under it to avoid and accident – is located. If something is blocking the sensor, it will reverse the motion of the garage door.

Luckily, this is a very easy fix. Simply remove the items or debris away from the sensor and the garage door should open and close properly again.

The garage door opener. Of course, the culprit very well may be your garage door opener. First, check the remote and make sure every button is working properly and that they aren’t sticking. Then, check the wall mounted opener. If you notice any buttons sticking or dimming lights, it’s time to call a garage door professional. 

Circuit issues. If your electrical circuits have been damaged by thunderstorms or other negative weather patterns, or if there was a recent power outage in your area, your garage’s electric circuit may have been affected.

Identical codes. If you have an older garage door opener, your garage door may be opening on its own because positioning clips within the opener have been programmed to the same frequency or code as your neighbors.

If you suspect this is the problem, you’ll need to change the garage door opener’s code or have it reprogrammed. First, however, reach out to a garage door professional to make sure your codes and frequencies were set up properly in the first place.

Defective control wiring. If you’ve checked your garage door’s remote, and there hasn’t been any adverse weather for a while, your garage door may be opening on its own because of faulty control wiring. This central wiring connects the motor unit on the garage ceiling to the wall mounted opener. Sometimes, this wiring can get damaged by mice or other animals or normal wear and tear.

To address this issue, you’ll need to contact a garage door company who can test the control wiring and replace or repair it in the event that it has been damaged.

Safety sensor issues. If your safety sensors are misaligned, your garage door may open on its own. These sensors work together, but if one gets out of the proper alignment, the garage door will potentially open on its own when the sensor mechanism is triggered inadvertently.

Baffled by a garage door that opens on its own? Give the team at Encore Overhead Doors a call. We’ve been helping Edmonton residents solve this mystery for decades, and can help solve yours, too.