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Garage Door Opener Problems: Diagnosing Radio Interference

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Do you keep replacing the batteries in your garage door opener remote but despite all your efforts it still only works intermittently? Something is likely interrupting the signal your remote sends to the opener. But what is there to do with radio interference?

Radio waves are everywhere. But since they’re invisible, they’re not necessarily something we think about. With the advent of cellular technology, smart devices, and Bluetooth, there are more radio waves than ever before. And yes, that widespread radiofrequency can even interfere with your garage door, especially if you’ve got an older automatic opener model. 

What is Radio Frequency Interference?

Radio frequency interference (RFI), similar to electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be caused by both manmade things as well as natural occurrences. As the name would suggest, RFI is when outside sources of electrical activity disrupt a given circuit – in this case, your garage door opener.

You’ve likely head of RFI a few times and may haven’t even realized it. Lightning storms affecting power grids, solar flares, televisions, cell phones – everything is susceptible to RFI. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for your malfunctioning garage door opener, and it likely won’t require new garage door parts or complicated wiring. Let’s break it down:

Confirming Radio Interference with Your Garage Door Opener

The solution to eliminating RFI with your opener remote requires a series of simple tests you can do yourself that may reveal the source of the interference. First test for interference by triggering the remote while standing close to the unit. If it opens consistently that close but has trouble far away, you likely have an interference problem. 

Luckily, most of the repairs for this issue don’t require new garage door parts. All you have to do is to identify the source of radio interference and either move it or turn it off. The hardest part of this problem is identifying it.

Troubleshooting Garage Door Opener RFI

So, what can we check and alter to resolve the interference issue? There are 6 tests we recommend to suss out exactly what the communication issue is. As you’ll see, these are some pretty simple, low-cost DIY garage door repairs:

1. Do you have more than one garage door opener? Unplug the one that you think is having the range issues. Confirm by trying the remote again. If the range of your garage door opener remote gets better with the other opener unplugged, you’ll need to replace the logic board on the faulted opener.

2. Is the problem your car? Try the remote outside of your car to see if it regains a strong connection to the garage door opener. This fix could be as simple as taking the remote out of your car visor when you need it, or removing whatever was obstructing the remote’s ability to signal to the opener.

3. Try a power down and reset of your garage door opener. That old saying, “Have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again?” isn’t just good for computers – it’s good for anything with computer components. Maybe your opener just needed a second to reconfigure itself. 

4. Still no luck? Try a power down of the whole garage. First, unplug the garage door opener and use an extension cord to plug it into the house. Then, unplug everything else in the garage. Turn the garage circuit off and see if the range improves. If it does, something in your garage is causing the RFI. Turn the garage circuit back on and begin to test each other thing that’s plugged in in the garage to find the culprit. 

5. Alright, if that still hasn’t worked, we’ve got to power down the whole house. Turn all the house circuits off but leave the garage circuit on. Unplug everything in the garage except the garage door opener and test it. If the RFI is gone, it may be a room in your house messing with the opener remote. One by one, test power in each room against the remote to see if you can figure out the issue.

6. Is your garage door opener in a metal building or a building with a metal roof? Whoops. No problem, though; just install an antenna to boost the remote’s ability to communicate with the door opener.

When There’s no Fixing the RFI Issue with Your Garage Door Opener

If all these efforts haven’t resolved the issue, it’s likely the control panel just isn’t up to snuff anymore. Many older garage door openers work on a single frequency that is easily interrupted (and pirated), and there’s not a whole lot you can do about it. 

Today’s garage door openers use dual frequency communication and smart technology to increase the security of your garage. These kinds of opener systems allow remote monitoring of garage door activity, smartphone control of the garage door, features like Amazon deliver, and battery backups for safety during power outages and wildfire evacuations.

Consult with your local exterior door install company; they’ll know the ins and outs of what kind of garage door opener will fit your needs. They’ll also know the state mandates; because if you’re replacing your garage door opener, California has something to say about security features you need on that new opener system; namely, a battery backup.

Troubleshooting Other Garage Door Opener Issues

Busted garage door opener? Interestingly enough, most of the time, your garage door opener isn’t actually broken. In fact, many times it’s a very simple issue that’s easily overlooked: 

Garage Door Opener Remote Isn’t Working

If your remote is failing to activate the garage door opener, the first thing you do is check your batteries in your remote. The next is to check the power connection, including the fuse box. No, we don’t think you’re an idiot. But you’d be surprised how many emergency garage door repairs we’ve answered that were nothing but a dead remote battery. About half the time, the solution really is that simple!

Garage Door Springs or Cables Are Broken

There is also a possibility your garage door opener isn’t the problem at all. Can you hear it running but nothing actually happens? Release the garage door opener by pulling on the cord hanging overhead on the trolley. Next, try to open the door manually. If you can’t, the problem isn’t the opener — it’s probably the garage door’s springs.

The Opener’s Wall Hardware Needs Replaced

If the remote works but the wall switch doesn’t, you’ll need to replace either the wall switch or the switch wires. Unscrew the switch and touch the wires together. (They’re low voltage, so there’s no risk of shock.) If the opener works, the switch is bad. In that case, you’ll need to replace the switch wires.

You Need a New Remote for Your Garage Door Opener

Does the wall switch opener work but not the remote? You may need a new remote. Check online or with your garage door opener company. You can usually find a new one for not too much money. If you have an older opener, you might need to instead purchase a universal remote and have it programmed. It’s a fairly easy fix when it comes to garage door opener repair.

Why You Should Consider a New Garage Door Opener

There are a few reasons that, should your current garage door opener be giving you issues, you should think about just having it replaced with a newer model. Smart technology and features like backup power units make new garage door openers more:

  • Convenient
  • Secure
  • Safe
  • Energy efficient

You’ll have the ability to operate your garage door from anywhere, schedule deliveries, monitor the garage door’s use, and to integrate it with the rest of your smart home stuff. As well, the importance of a battery backup system that comes with a new garage door opener installation cannot be understated. Not only does it eliminate obstacles during power outages, but it also ensures you can get out quickly in case of a wildfire evacuation.

Other Reasons Garage Door Openers Fail to Work

There are numerous other reasons garage door openers might not be working. They could be low on batteries. They may need a new motor. Contact SACS GARAGE DOOR REPAIR to schedule an appointment to have it looked at. Serving the Roseville and Greater Sacramento areas, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or you can schedule a visit online

All our work is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Our technicians are certified, friendly professionals, and all garage door services we provide are fully-insured. We serve the Greater Sacramento area, including Folsom, Rocklin and Roseville.

Why You Should Call a Professional to Repair Garage Door Spring

The first thing you need to know when it comes to replacing your garage door spring is that it is absolutely not a DIY job. Those springs are under a tremendous amount of pressure, and if they are suddenly released, they can cause serious bodily harm and even death. Always call a professional like Sac’s Garage Door Repair. There are two types of springs on garage doors. Torsion springs are attached just above a closed garage door. Extension springs are located on both sides of the door above the upper tracks. Squeaky doors can be fixed with a simple application of grease, but for any kind of replacement, stick to the pros. Sac’s Garage Door Repair is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience.

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