A garage door is considered a vital part of your home. It protects your belongings and keeps intruders away. When it opens by itself, it can be a sign of problems that need to be handled immediately. Phantom operation occurs when there is a problem in the motor, sensor, or in its controller. Phantom operation occurs when a garage door automatically opens or closes itself and sometimes both. This situation is dangerous because it means that someone could have come into your garage without you knowing about it. In the case of burglary, this can lead to much more valuable losses than just some money (credit cards, documents, etc.).
The reasons why your garage door is opening or closing itself automatically can be numerous. It might be simple and easy to solve, just like a string on your remote controller is tangled; or it could be a more technical issue with the sensors or other parts of the system.
Top 4 Reasons A Garage Door Opens By Itself
Safety Sensors
Safety features are added to the garage door, which automatically opens when they detect any block during closing. The motors are responsible for handling this. If the door, while closing, finds any sort of resistance, then it will immediately open itself up. This goes for the slightest resistance, such as a shoe or pile of leaves even.
Another reason for garage door opening after closing itself is improper alignment of floor sensors. The sensors are put on the tracks, and in case of a bent, they will stop working.
Thankfully, the garage doors come with a light that blinks if any blocking is present that might cause the garage door to start opening itself. However, if you do not find anything there, the sensor might need replacement.
Check Garage Door Button Opener
The button is somewhat similar to a doorbell; if your garage door activates using a button, make sure there is no pressure and free from debris. The accumulation of dirt and dust can easily cause pressure to build on it, making the garage door open itself.
Forget not to check the wiring and circuit connection of the house as well. You might be doing everything right and not checking the circuit where the problem lies.
Transformer and Control Board
If you find no issues with the wiring and safety sensors, then you must have a look at the control board. Your garage door might be opening itself due to the faulty board. Sudden power surges and voltage fluctuations are the main reason for it going bad. It is a good practice to check the voltage coming in using a multimeter periodically.
Radar Problem
It is one of the least common occurrences but may happen. If you find none of your garage door problems, it is still opening and closing itself; talk to your neighbors. They might have set their garage door with the same code causing the sensors to detect it. It is a very rare phenomenon but not completely irrelevant.
Solutions for Garage Door Opening Problem
- Change the radio frequency or code– the sensors work on frequencies and catch radio waves. Other devices like car radios, a nearby police vehicle, or your neighbor’s garage door can get mixed. If you are lucky, changing the code and frequency will easily solve your problem.
- Make sure the button is clean and the circuit is working as it should. Check for the light streak that indicates a pushed button.
- Check the position of sensors; even the slightest bend can cause thh2 to malfunction.
Conclusion
A garage door opening itself is problematic. If you can’t seh2 to find where the fault lies, it is better to approach a professional. Garage Door Doctor is here for your aid; call now at 630-977-9172 to talk to a garage door repair professional and get the best services at the most affordable price.