The light goes on but your Northern Illinois garage door doesn’t move

It’s frustrating when you press the button on your remote control but the garage door on your Northern Illinois garage doesn't go up or down. It just sits there. There is more than one potential issue causing this problem.

The Wall Station can cause garage door opener problems

Pushing the button and nothing happens at all - no light, no sound - typically means that there is a short in either the button or the wiring between the wall station (the control panel on the wall) and the garage door opener. No signal is getting through.

When the light does come on, but you don’t hear any noises from the garage door opener, it suggests that power isn’t reaching the motor. This could be the result of a broken wire or a blown computer board.

You can also have a problem where you push the wall station button and your garage door opener lights up and makes noise but the door doesn't move. This could mean several things. A gear may have worn enough that its teeth are bad. The same may happen to the carriage assembly. These prevent the garage door opener from moving the garage door even though the motor is turning. You could also have a bad capacitor.

In all of these situations, the best bet is to call a garage door professional to resolve your problem. There are some garage door and garage door opener repairs you may want to try yourself, if you are handy. But can you risk severe electrical injury as well as severe injury from the excessive force created by the springs that help to raise and lower the garage door?

The Remote is another possible garage door opener culprit

If you have a problem with the door not raising when you push the button on your remote, it basically involves two potential problems. The first thing to do is to check the battery in the remote. This is a quick and easy fix. If it's bad, replace it.

If the battery in the remote is good or new, then, chances are, you need a new remote control for your garage door opener. Universal remotes typically work well with most brands and models of garage door openers and replacement is probably your best move.

Homeowners in Northern Illinois can find help with garage door openers that don’t work by calling a trusted garage door professional.

What are the effects of power outages on your Northern Illinois Garage Door Opener

The weather in Northern Illinois can, invariably, cause a power outage. You can count on it happening. It's just a matter of when. When Mother Nature overpowers Com Ed, what does that mean for your garage door opener?


Obviously, your garage door opener needs power to operate: no electricity and the garage door opener can't work. But, just because the utility can’t provide power doesn't mean you have to go without.


Consider the following options:

• Link your garage door opener to your home’s back-up generator
• Install a garage door opener with a dedicated battery back-up system

The best solution is to have a back-up generator that kicks in when the big storm hits and lines go down. Typically, these are set to operate vital appliances, such as a fridge full of groceries you just bought, when a storm hits. Most people don't think to include their garage door opener in this loop.

Since the garage door opener is a relatively low-wattage consumer, and it only uses that electricity when raising and lowering your garage door, it doesn’t steal significant and vital energy from other appliances. Tying the garage door opener to the back-up generator will go a long way to keeping you operational in a blackout.


Another solution is to get a garage door opener that has its own battery back-up for just such an emergency. Most newer models come with this feature. If you are in the marker for a new garage door opener in Northern Illinois, whether you are upgrading, or your garage door opener is part of a new-construction project, consider getting this option.


If you have a garage door opener that lacks this feature, don't worry. You can retrofit most garage door openers with this option. Ask your garage door service provider to install this for you and you will be ready for the fury of Northern Illinois storms.


No Back Up Power Source

In the instances that your back-up device fails or you just don't have one, you can still use your garage door. All garage door openers feature a manual release latch, on the inside of the garage, so that you can operate your door without power (if you’re stuck outside, this is a problem).

You have to do the lifting yourself, but you can get your car in and out of the garage. When you get your power back, you just reconnect the release to let your garage door opener do the work for you again. If you have problems reconnecting, call your garage door professional for guidance on how to do this with your particular model.


Problems Caused by Outages

A power surge or power outage from a storm can damage your garage door and garage door opener. Manually raising and lowering your garage door puts more wear on the hardware than having the garage door opener do the work. The computer board in your garage door opener makes this process happen in a smooth and constant fashion that increases the lifespan of your garage door hardware.


A big surge can affect the electronics in your garage door opener. That may mean that the lights on the sensors may burn out, or the overhead light. This can cause inconvenience and a malfunction. A big enough surge could take out the computer board in the garage door opener, preventing it from working. Call your garage door professional if this occurs.


Can't Get In

The last thing to consider when the power goes out is how you can get in your house if the garage door opener fails to work? Most homeowners in Northern Illinois enter and exit their homes only through their garage door. That can be a problem if you don’t carry a key for another door.


Mother Nature can rage all she wants, but you and your garage door opener can withstand her worst if you plan to keep your garage door opener working when the power goes out. And then you’ll always have a way to get yourself in when the power is out.

When is it time to get a new garage door?

There are three factors that drive the decision to get a new garage door. Typically, they do not overlap. You will base your choice on one of these factors: aesthetics, lifestyle change or damage.

Replacing your garage door based on damage: When making your decision about replacing your garage door based on damage, the first thing to consider is do you trust those advising you? Some contractors will sell you a door you don't really need, convincing you that it is better to replace than repair. When possible, however, it is often better to repair what you already have rather than to spend the money to replace that garage door.

One way to avoid unnecessary up-selling is to develop a solid, working relationship with a garage repair company for general service before you need a major repair. That way you can get to know them and decide if you trust them on the bigger decisions, such as when to replace your garage door.

As mentioned in an earlier post from this blog, there is a point where the cost of repairing the garage door approaches the cost of replacing it. If you are repairing only a few panels, it typically is less expensive to go that way. If you are replacing four panels or a significant amount of the hardware for the garage door opener the cost of a new door may make more sense.

Older doors deteriorate over time and need replacing. Wood panels eventually rot. They provide a great look to the door but if not cared for correctly, they deteriorate. Steel panels will rust, especially older designed steel panels. In these instances, replacement is the only real option.


Replacing your garage door based on aesthetics: Sometimes homeowners will want to update the look of their house and/or garage. Replacing your garage doors can provide a significant cosmetic upgrade to a home. With many homes in Northern Illinois the garage doors make up 30-to-40 percent of the front view of the home. An update to the garage doors creates quick curb appeal; this is something to consider if you are planning to sell your home.

In the realm of cosmetic or aesthetic choices, the garage door may be structurally fine, but the desire for a new look may drive the decision to replace it. For instance, the desire to add window panels to the garage door will require replacing the whole door not just the panel that would have the window. This also increases the weight of the door which will require upgrading hardware for your garage door opener, which will also drive up price.

Replacing your garage door based on changes in lifestyle: Sometimes lifestyle changes convince homeowners to replace their garage doors. For instance, a homeowner may decide they want to use the garage more frequently such as in the winter. Doing so will probably compel them to insulate the garage, which will lead to the logical conclusion to also insulate the garage door.

While it is possible to insulate an existing garage door, this is not always the best option. Insulating an existing garage door can diminish the effectiveness of the insulation in the rest of the garage.

Whatever your reason for replacing your garage door, make sure you use a reputable installer to ensure that you are getting the best fit for your garage and that the garage door opener operates properly when raising and lowering the door.

Some basic tips on care and replacement of garage door sensors

You press the button on your remote but your garage door doesn't lower. Concern floods your mind that something big might be wrong with your garage door opener. Relax, more likely it is something simple, such as the garage door sensors are misaligned.

This is something that happens all the time. A garbage bin bumps a sensor when taking out the garbage. A broom or a shovel stored in the corner is grabbed too quickly and knocks the sensor out of line. A child may think that the sensor is a play thing and turn it in a different direction. Any of these scenarios, or similar scenarios, can cause your garage door not to close because the garage door opener is reading that an obstruction is in the way.

Homeowners sometimes express frustration with the inconvenience of sensors being placed so close to the ground and that their sensitivity stops the garage door opener from operating when a mild misalignment occurs. But, by law, the sensors are required to be placed where they are – three inches to six inches from the ground. The reason for this is to protect infants and small pets you might not see. In the process, the placement of the sensors helps to prevent serious injury, or even death from the weight of a garage door.

The good news is that most maintenance, and even replacement of the garage door sensors, is something many homeowners can do themselves. If your garage door opener cannot close your garage door because the sensors are misaligned, it is easy to resolve. Ensure the light, that little red dot, is square in the bracket and that the bracket is square to the floor. Then use a measuring tape to check the distance from the floor to the center of the photo eye. Repeat the process on the other side, ensuring the second photo eye is the same height. Your garage door opener should now complete the close cycle.

Your sensors should last as long as the for the life of the garage door opener system. On occasion, however, they may fail before that but this is unlikely. If you feel you are mechanically inclined, to some degree, then this repair is something you can probably handle. It is basically disconnecting two wires from the old sensor and reconnecting them to the new.

There are some simple things to keep in mind to avoid issues with your garage door sensors. Set up a system to store your tools away from the door. Keep the salt that gets you through your Northern Illinois winters away from the corner of your garage. Make sure you clean up the leaves and cobwebs that collect near your sensors. All of this will keep your garage door opener raising and lowering your garage door as you expect it to.

Remember to maintain your garage door sensors so they operate properly. Realignment and replacement are simple projects most homeowners can do. If you feel uncomfortable with that, or you find that it isn't as easy as you thought, call in a professional you know you can trust.

Installing an insulated garage door is a good idea in the right situation

Northern Illinois experiences some brutal winters. Keeping warm both inside the house and inside the garage takes some thought and effort. Concerns about utility costs contribute to the harshness of winter. Anything we can do to create heat retention helps. When heat escapes from your home or garage, those are energy dollars sucked from your wallet. Insulated garage doors can make a big difference.

Installing insulated garage doors ultimately comes down to the preference of the homeowner. Not every circumstance requires them, but they certainly do add value.

If you garage is attached to the house, adding insulated doors helps. It’s even recommended, and more so if there are rooms above the garage. In these situations, your garage door is also a factor in keeping you house warm in the winter. The higher R Value (the capacity of insulation to resist heat flow) of the garage door, the warmer your garage and the warmer your house.

If your garage is not attached to your house, you may not want insulated doors. They still provide value if your garage is heated or insulated. If you use the garage for a workspace in the winter, it’s more of a factor. If none of these apply, then insulated garage doors are not your best choice.

Another value insulated garage doors provide is that roll smoother and quieter than uninsulated garage doors. This is based on the weight of the doors. Heavier is quieter. If this is the only reason you are considering them, also consider that heavier doors result in fewer cycles, or trips up and down, before maintenance on your garage door opener. Typically, a garage door opener has about 10,000 cycles before requiring maintenance. Along with heat retention, and lowered utility costs, this provides a better return on investment.

You have two choices in types of insulated garage doors. The first is a Pan Door. These are hollow with insulation glued to the inner surface. These can give you an R rating up to 9. Your second choice is a poly-foam injected garage door. These have much greater r ratings of up to R22. They also tend to be heavier, so consider the cost of cycle reduction if you choose to go this route. For reference, your standard 2x4 wall provides an R value of 13.

Consider these options before you invest in an insulated garage door. They will guide you to deciding if you truly want one and what style to choose. Ultimately, this is a matter of what you like for your garage. But, keep in mind, a good insulated garage door can help take the bite out of Northern Illinois winters.

Jack-shaft garage door opener offers space saving benefits

Whether you have a small garage or a larger garage you tend to keep full, if you want to save space in your garage, there are garage door opener options that can help. A jack-shaft garage door opener serves this purpose well.

Firs thing to determine is if a jack-shaft garage door opener is the right solution for you. You must have a torsion spring system. With a torsion spring style garage door, torsion springs serve as the counter weight to the door to keep it moving in a controlled and smooth motion as it goes up and down. Torsion springs mount against the wall above the garage door opening and take up much less space than the typical extension spring system, which extends back from the garage door. Thus it helps in a tight space.

The more common extension spring system has the garage door opener mounted on the ceiling somewhere toward the middle of the garage. It has rails, rollers and a spring system installed on either side of the door. This is a lot of equipment to get the job done. It works well, which is why most people have it. But, it takes up a lot of space, too.

Most modern garages are designed with a lot of space, which easily accommodates the extension spring system. But if your garage is older, it is probably smaller and may not easily accommodate this style of garage door opener.

During the late nineties, a trend among builders in Northern Illinois developed putting structural beams through garages that had a second story of the house above the garage. Often these beams get in the way of the optimal placement for the extension spring garage door opener system. The solution, in either case, is probably a jack-shaft garage door opener.

If all you want a cleaner look to your garage, with a ceiling free of machinery, or if you want to build a loft so you have more storage space above your garage, a jack-shaft garage door opener could be the answer.

The jack-shaft garage door opener is installed to the side of the garage door opening. All that is needed is 3” to 4”of headroom (space between the torsion shaft and the ceiling) and 8” of space between the garage door opening and the wall on the side where you want to install the Jack Shaft.  You will also need electricity in that corner. That does not mean running an extension cord over there. You’ll have to have an electrician install a grounded outlet in the corner where you want the jack-shaft garage door opener installed.

General routine maintenance for this type of system helps keep your garage door opener running smoothly. If, however, you have issues with the cable, if it goes limp or the door stops moving, call a professional for help. Since the springs are loaded with considerable tension, these repairs involve a high risk of danger. This is NOT a job to take on as a DIY project.

Everything considered, however, if you want more space in your garage, a jack-shaft garage door opener, with a torsion spring system, can serve you well.

Not doing anything Saturday night? Come out to the McHenry VFW, just east of the Fox River on Route 120, for Shop With A Cop. The event includes raffles, a silent auction, a live auction, food, cash bar and the live music of Hans and the Hormones. The Johnsburg High School Madrigal Choir is even coming in Victorian outfits to sing holiday songs. And all this fun will raise money so area police officers can take deserving children out shopping for the holidays.

The party begins at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21.

Yes, the elements will affect your garage door opener

The elements in Northern Illinois can affect the performance of your garage door and garage door opener. Fortunately, we don’t don’t have to deal with hurricanes here in Northern Illinois and tornadoes aren’t frequent, but storms still can affect us. For instance, our Northern Illinois winters are often vicious and can cause problems.

Polar vortexes, blizzards and ice storms give us enough to worry about each winter. But, with a little planning and care, you can prevent them from making problems for your garage door and garage door opener. Typically, your garage is warmer than outside. This means that each time you open your garage door, the threshold warms up and then gets cold again when the door closes. This warm-cold-warm-cold cycle causes ice to build up. This creates issues for your garage door opener. The opener has a set limit, preset to a range that the door goes to in its closed position. Even a buildup of half an inch of ice can prevent the garage door from reaching its limit to completely close. This in turn tells the garage door opener that something is in the way and raises the door as a safety measure. Taking the time to use your snow shovel across the threshold on a regular basis helps prevent this. Liberal application of ice-melt can help as well.

The cold and the changes from warm to cold and back again, also add stress to the rails, rollers and springs of the garage door opener. Contraction and expansion happen with each of these changes. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way to alleviate issues related to contraction and expansion. Make sure all moving parts are oiled and lubed appropriately. It’s easier to do this when it’s warm, but if you forget and find that you need to do this in the winter, don’t stress, just dress warm so you’re comfortable as you work. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes anyhow. Using motor oil is effective and a 5W30 is easier to work with in the winter. An oil can will help you to dispense the oil onto the hinges and other moving parts.

Proper lubrication of the garage door’s moving parts will also help in the warmer months. And it does get hot in Northern Illinois, though not as hot as in some other regions. Just remember that mechanical devices generate their own heat when they work. When it’s hotter outside, they heat up more. Again, preventative maintenance goes a long way. If everything is oiled and lubed, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Even though, hurricanes aren’t a concern in the Midwest, the storms we do get can do damage to your garage door and/or upset the settings for your garage door opener.  Most often this results in cosmetic damage to the garage door panels. Unfortunately, the solution is generally to replace the garage door panels.  If your door is older, with ship lap panels rather than tongue and groove panels, you may find it harder to find replacement pieces. You could find yourself needing a full door replacement.

Lightning strikes can cause issues with your garage door opener. As with most complex devices, it contains a small computer that regulates various functions. A power surge, even from a brown out, can melt important components in the garage door opener. Plugging the garage door opener into a surge suppressor power strip can help prevent this. It won’t protect your garage door opener from all electrical surges, but it will protect it in many instances. In this case, a purchase of less than $20 can go a long way to help you avoid buying a new garage door opener.

Lastly, on a small scale, keep the photo eye devices clean. You’ll find these on attached to the garage door rails near the floor. These tell the computer in your garage door opener if there is something in the way when it is time to close. Anything obstructing the connection between the eyes lets the garage door opener know that it is not safe to close. Leaf build up in the fall, snow and ice in the winter, or spider webs any time of year, can affect this. It’s a good idea to occasionally check for this.

Even though we get some crazy weather in Northern Illinois, even brutal at times, routine maintenance and care can keep Mother Nature from affecting your garage door and garage door opener.