Frequently Asked Questions

What is wrong if my door will only open about an inch, or two, then stops?
You may have a broken spring. We suggest you contact our office to arrange a service call and we will send one of our qualified technicians to replace it. If you have two springs on your door and one is broken, it is recommended that you replace both springs.

My door closes if I push and hold the button on the wall but my "remote control" won't work. What is wrong?
You may have your "lock-out" on. Check the wall button inside the garage. On newer LiftMaster operators there will be a small green light in the middle of the large white button. That light should be solid - if it is flashing, push the lock button beneath it and your remote should now work.

On older operators there should be a switch labelled "lock". If there is a red light lit on our control panel it is indicating that has been turned on. Switch that to the off position and your "remote" should work. If it still doesn't work, we recommend you bring your "remote" into our office and we can have a look at it or contact our office to arrange a service call and we will send one of our qualified technicians to determine the problem.

How come my door starts to close and then goes back up and the lights on my garage door opener flash?
If Chamberlain/LiftMaster/ Steelcraft/Craftsman manufactures your operator you may have a problem with your photocells. These are the small black boxes positioned at the bottom of the door on either side of the opening on the doorjamb or track.

Each photocell has an LED light on the side that faces the jamb. Those lights should be solid. If either one is flashing on not lit, that indicates they are out of alignment or something is blocking the beam that travels across the opening. Remove the item, or if nothing is blocking them, move the photocell slowly until the LED is a solid light. Your door should now close. If it still doesn't close, you should contact our office to arrange a service call and we will send one of our qualified technicians to determine the problem.

What if I have one "remote control" for the garage door opener, but I need another?
Call the office so that we can help you identify which model/brand you require. Then bring your existing control into our showroom, and we should be able to match and code it up for you.

How come my opener hums but will not open my door?
The gears in your operator head may be worn and need replacing.

My door comes down about 3/4 of the way and then goes back up. What is wrong?
Try rubbing paraffin wax on to the inside of the wood garage door trim (jamb). In wet weather the wood will absorb water, causing it to swell and the door can bind on this swollen wood, causing it to reverse. If reversing persists, please call our office and we would be happy to arrange a service call for you.

What is wrong if my opener runs and the traveller moves but the door won’t open or close?
The traveller needs to be reconnected. Please contact our office for instructions.

Why does my door open or close intermittently on it’s own?
Check the location of all the remote controls. They should be kept on the car visor, or in the console, with lots of free space. This way the buttons can’t get pressed by mistake. If this doesn’t help, it can also be a loose wire either at the operator head or the wall control, or possibly a broken wire.

My opener is very noisy. Can anything be done?
We can provide you with special isolators, which may help with this.

How do I reprogram my keypad?
There are many brands of keypads. If you contact our office, we should be able to assist you.

Can I put photocells on my existing opener?
Photocells are available for many, but not all, older openers. Contact our office to see if your opener is adaptable.

What is wrong if my opener does not work at all and no lights come on when I activate the unit?
Check for proper power supply to unit. If this seems to be in order call our office to arrange a service call.

How come my remote has such short range?
Check your battery in your remote control. Transmitters (remotes) are sensitive to voltage and require batteries with full voltage to operate with full range. Do not use rechargeable batteries. Our showroom has a full supply of 9V, 12V and lithium batteries available. Bring your transmitter to us and we will be happy to change your battery for you.

Why does my door close completely and then immediately open?
Check for obstructions under the door. If there is nothing under the door your machine’s “forces and limits” may need adjusting. Call our office to arrange a service call.

Why do my opener’s light bulb keep burning out?
Keep in mind that you must use a “rough service” bulb. Check your opener for the proper wattage to use.

Do I need to reinforce my door if I am installing an electric garage door opener?
Yes! All steel garage doors should be reinforced where the opener is attached to it. We can supply “operator plates” of various sizes to accommodate this.

How much headroom do I need to install a garage door?
You normally require 12 inches of headroom to install a residential overhead door with torsion spring hardware. You do require an additional two inches to accommodate the installation of an electric opener. Call our office to clarify. We can also arrange to come out to your job site and go over these details with you.

I do not have the required amount of headroom. Is there anything I can do?
Yes! Different types of low headroom hardware are now available. You can install a door and opener in as little as six inches of headroom using special “double track” hardware. Consult our office for details regarding all types of low headroom hardware.

I do not have a standard size opening. Can you get a door to fit?
Yes! There is a very wide range of standard sizes available. We can also special order many products in custom two” increments. Almost anything is possible! Consult our office for details regarding custom sizes.

If you have other questions please contact us at (250) 383-1606.