Q. How do I maintain my Garage Door?

All garage doors are like cars, if you maintain and clean your car often the longer it will last – so when you clean your car, clean your garage door too. Doors can be washed with a mild detergent using a soft car brush.

Doors that are not rain washed regularly need to be washed more often (1-2 months) to reduce the build up of corrosive elements.

Garage doors that are in close proximity to corrosive elements, such as coastal properties need to be washed at least once a month; a car wax can be used for added protection.

Doors with timber finishes should be cleaned and maintained according to the timber finish manufacturer’s recommendations.

Q. What happens if there is a power cut with my automatic door opener?

Most garage doors can be disengaged for manual operation. Most have a manual release handle, with just a pull of the cord the door will be disengaged for manual use. Once the door has been disengaged and your car removed it is important to engage the motor again for secure locking.

Q. Why after 2 months of operations do the springs on may door have to be adjusted?

Springs for sectional and roller doors are rated for specific operating heights and specific amounts of operations. Springs will relax after an initial working period. If motorized this could affect the open/close operation reliability. At this time the motor sensitivity settings may have to be altered. In extreme circumstances the door springs may need to be adjusted.

Q. What if the garage door opener does not operate from either the optional door control or the remote?

Does the opener have electric power? Plug a lamp into the outlet. If it doesn't light, check the fuse box or the circuit breaker. (A wall switch controls some outlets).

Have you disabled all door locks? 

Is there a build-up of ice or snow under the door? The door may be frozen to the ground. Remove any restrictions.

The garage door springs may be broken. Have them replaced.

Repeated operation may have tripped the overload protector in the motor. Wait 15 minutes and try again.

Q. The opener operated from the remote, but not from the illuminated wall button?

Is the door control lit? If not, remove the bell wire from the motor unit terminals. Short the red and white terminals by touching terminals at the same time with a piece of wire. If the opener runs, check for a faulty wire connection at the door control, a short under the staples or a broken wire.

Are the wiring connections correct? Review Installation Instructions.

Q. The door operates by the illuminated wall button, but not from the remote?

Is the door push button flashing? If your model has the Lock feature, make sure it is off.

Program the opener to match the remote control code (Refer to instructions). Repeat with all remotes.

Q. The remote control has a short range?

Change the location of the remote in your car.

Check to be sure the antenna on the back panel of opener extends fully downwards.

Some installations may have shorter range due to a metal door, foil backed insulation, or metal garage siding.

Is the battery installed or weak? Replace battery.

Q. The opener noise is disturbing in the living quarters of our home?

If operation noise is a problem because of proximity of the opener to the living quarters, the Vibration Isolator Kit can be installed. This kit is designed to minimize vibration to the house and is easy to install. Belts can also replace chains to minimize noise. Also, if the opener is below living quarters, thicker padding for carpeted areas can help considerably.

Q. The garage door opens and closes by itself?

Be sure that all remote control push buttons are off.

Remove the bell wire from the door control terminals and operate from the remote control only.  If this solves the problem, the door control is faulty (replace), or there is an intermittent short on the wire between the door control and the opener.

Clear memory and re-program all remote controls.

Q. Why doesn't the door open completely?

Is something obstructing the door?  Is it out of balance, or are the springs broken? Remove the obstructions or repair the door.

If the door is in good working order but now doesn't open all the way increase the up forces (see instructions manual).

If the door opens at least 1.5m, the travel limits may need to be increased. One turn equals 50mm inches of travel (see instruction manual).

Repeat the safety reverse test after the adjustment is complete.

Q. The door stops, but doesn't close completely?

Review the travel limits adjustment procedures (see instructions manual)

Repeat the safety reverse test after any adjustment of door arm length, close force or down limit.

Q. The door opens, but will not close?

If the opener light blinks, check the safety-reversing sensor.

If the opener light doesn't blink and it is a new installation check the down force (see installation manual).

Repeat safety reverse test after the adjustment is complete.

Q. The door reverses for no apparent reason and opener light doesn't blink?

Is something obstructing the door? Pull the emergency release handle. Operate the door manually.  If it is unbalanced or binding, call for professional garage door service.

Clear any debris, ice or snow from the garage floor area where the door closes.

If the door reverses in the fully closed position, decrease the travel limits (see instructions manual).

Repeat safety reverse test after adjustments to force or travel limits. The need for occasional adjustment of the force limit settings is normal. Weather conditions in particular can affect the door travel.

Q. The door reverses for no apparent reason and opener light blinks for 5 seconds after reversing?

Check the safety-reversing sensor. Remove any obstruction or align the receiving eye.

Q. The opener light doesn't turn off?

Replace the light globe (40 watts maximum). Use a rough service/heavy duty light globe if regular globe burns out.

Q. The opener light doesn't turn off?

Is the light feature on? Turn it off.

There may be a defective earth connection. The operator must be properly earthed.

Q. The opener strains/need maximum force to operate the door?

The door may be out of balance or the springs may be broken. Close the door and use the emergency release handle to disconnect the trolley. Open and close the door manually. A properly balanced door will stay at any point of travel while being supported entirely by its springs.

Do not increase the force to operate the opener.

Q. The opener motor hums briefly, and then will not work?

The garage door springs may be broken, replace.

If the problem occurs on the first operation of the door opener, door may be locked. Disable the door lock.

Q. The chain droops or sags?

It is normal for the chain to droop slightly in the closed-door position. Use the emergency release to disconnect the trolley. If the chain returns to normal height when the trolley is disengaged and the door reverses on a 40 mm board, no adjustments are needed.

Q. What about drafty doors?

All garage doors have drafts; however the extent of drafts can be reduced. Sectional doors and roller doors come complete with a weatherseal resistant strip at the bottom of the door. This multi-fin design creates an effective seal, with the deep cushioning helping to keep wind and leaves outside your garage.

An optional extra jamb seal is available for sectional doors, which also reduces drafts around the door.