Being able to open your garage door with one click of a button is a major convenience. But when the portable garage door remote stops working, it can be a hassle. It forces us to get out of the car for the epic struggle of opening the door manually. Or, running into the house, pushing the wall control and then swiftly rushing back to the car to park in the garage.
Garage door remotes are built for our convenience and our security. So, we really take it for granted when it begins acting up, throwing a wrench in our routines when it stops working.
How A Garage Door Remote It Works
Your garage door remote is programmed to send and receive signals from the garage door opener’s antenna. The remote is wireless and portable, while the keypad or wall mount button is hard wired to control the door. Since they work independently, it’s not uncommon for one of these buttons to stop working while the other is fine.
The first thing to inspect is if you’ve broken one or both buttons. Determining whether both the wall button and remote have been compromised can help you solve the problem. It gives you a good starting point.
Troubleshooting Your Garage Door Remote
Many garage door openers are usually quite similar. So, if you lose your owner’s manual, the internet is a great place to go for instructions. Or find one comparable enough to use.
Check The Batteries
The first thing you need to check when your garage door remote ceases to function are the batteries. This is the one step everyone will suggest, and yet many still forget about it sometimes. If this is all that needs to be adjusted, you’ve hit the jackpot with a simple fix. Once you replace the batteries, you’ll be on your way. However, if you swap out the batteries for new ones and it still doesn’t work, you may have a bigger problem on your hands.
If the batteries weren’t the issue, it’s only natural to follow a process of elimination. Work your way down the list and begin troubleshooting other common problems that could be jamming the garage door remote.
Is It Plugged In?
The next thing to look for would be checking to see if the garage door opener is plugged in. It may seem like common sense, but a lot of the time, they can come loose from the outlet and need to be pushed back into the socket. Or perhaps someone unplugged to use a tool and forgot to plug it back in.
It’s something many people don’t think of if they perceive the plug to be plugged in already. Even unplugging and plugging the cord back in can help if the cord was slightly ajar.
Check Your Circuit Breaker
There may be a chance that the circuit breaker tripped and has shorted the power in your garage. If you weren’t using tools or doing other tasks in the garage you may not know. Even if a storm flew by weeks ago and surged the power, there’s a good chance you aren’t aware it happened.
Go to the service panel and check to see if the breaker labelled “Garage” is switched to the “OFF” position and simply flick it back to “ON.” This should reset the power and get it flowing again.
Is The Door Locked?
If that still isn’t the issue, it’s a good idea to check and see if the garage door is locked. Sometimes the simplest things can resolve the problem.
Many wall buttons include a “lock door” switch. If someone turns it on, the receiver board won’t send or accept signals from your portable remote. Meaning the garage door won’t open when you press the wireless remote. Turn the lock button off, and your problem get’s resolved.
Make Sure The Signal Is Not Blocked
Though most technology is more advanced and it isn’t likely something would block the remote’s signal, it is possible. There may be an overhanging tree or airport with control towers nearby. Something around the garage that disrupts the wireless remote connectivity. Even TV cable, amps, surge protectors, fluorescent & LED lighting, and battery chargers could cause disruption enough to make your remote cut in and out.
The best way to test it is to get up close to the garage or try opening it from different angles or from inside the garage with the remote. If it works and it opens, then something is blocking the connection.
Fixes
The easiest fix here, remove what’s blocking the connectivity. It can prove difficult if the tree is too large to cut, or something like interference from a nearby airport or radio tower prevents the signal. These are conditions you cannot remove and will have to think of other options.
Frequency
You can change the frequency of the remote to try and increase the signal. Changing the signal from -310 MHz to 315 MHz or 390 MHz could increase it enough to get the remote working consistently.
Antenna
Some garage door openers need an antenna extension or new placement. The antenna hangs from the operator right below the opener to ensure a clear communication signal from the opener to the remote is present. You can install an antenna extension to increase signal range or even move the antenna into an area that seems to pick up less interference.
Reset The Garage Door Remote Opener
If that still isn’t what is happening, it may be time to reset the remote. If the wall control works but the remote no longer does, you’ve found your culprit. This is where the owner’s manual comes in. You will need to follow the procedure in the instructions to reset the remote. You can also look online for the correct opener brand and style to get the reset information.
Maintenance / New Opener
If your garage door opener remote is still being finicky and isn’t working, it may be time to do a routine maintenance check on the door. It may not be a remote issue at all, and the tracks, cables or springs need repairing. See our pointers here for how you should conduct a routine garage door maintenance check. If it’s not maintenance, A1 Doors can come over and inspect the situation, perhaps you need a new wall button or keypad rewired, or the entire garage door opener needs a replacement. Whatever the case, we have the solution and can fix your garage door day or night.
If you find yourself needing any extra advice or repairs, call us anytime for 24/7 emergency services at 403-923-8186. At A1 Doors, we have the skill and expertise to fix any overhead door issue you have.