Experiencing Electrical Issues With Your Garage Door: Do You Need an Electrician?

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Garage Doors
• Common Reasons Why a Garage Door Stops Working
• Why You Should Always Call a Professional
• For Garage Door Electrical Issues, Contact Santella Electric

Introduction to Garage Doors

A central piece of equipment for many homes is the garage. Both protecting your car, storage space, and general security, the garage door carries more weight than many people realize. So when your garage door hits the fritz and stops working, this can be a huge issue.

At Santella Electric, we specialize in finding and fixing many electrical issues that can impact a home or business, including garage doors. Read on as we explore many of the common issues that can hinder a garage door from normal functions as well as how to troubleshoot these problems to get your garage working smoothly again. Plus, we’ll explore the best times to bring in a professional for your issue.

Common Reasons Why a Garage Door Stops Working

There are a few different ways that a garage door can stop functioning; here are the most popular reasons we find from years in the field:

Control Panel Issues

Both remote controls and garage door panels can run into their own issues that may present like larger garage door issues. As such, this is a good place to start troubleshooting your garage door; if no signal is coming from your control board, there is definitely an issue. Loss of power in a remote or side panel is typically where these problems arise. Replacing batteries in a remote can be a great first step to troubleshoot. For those side panels, there may be wiring coming in that powers the device. If that is the case, troubleshooting further with a professional is the best way forward to ensure power is actually reaching the control buttons.

Blown Fuse/Weak Outlets

A major issue that arises for garage doors is a relevant blown fuse or another outlet issue, usually related to a lack of enough power. An outlet equipped for a garage door needs a 120-volt, 20-amp circuit. If an outlet can’t reach this power level, or has been weakened for one reason or another, your garage door gets put on the fritz. Looking into the power source can be a crucial first step towards troubleshooting an issue here, which is a great opportunity to bring in professional help. 

Internal Control Board Damage

Sometimes, the garage door motor and mechanism itself can be the issue. Whether power doesn’t reach the motor due to faulty wires or there is an internal mechanical issue hindering proper performance, internal control issues will certainly bring your garage door to a stop. Troubleshooting this may not be immediately straightforward as finding exactly what went wrong is critical, but potentially not obvious. When in doubt, bringing in a professional is the best way to quickly diagnose and fix your issue.

Why You Should Always Call a Professional

When your garage door has stopped working, especially if it’s likely a home electrical issue, bringing in a professional is always the right move. Here’s why professionals remain the superior option:

Expert Knowledge and Training

When bringing in a professional electrician, you’re bringing in expert knowledge and training. Formal training and years of experience guide a professional to make an educated guess and a proper fix to whatever electric issue has you down. Extensive knowledge of the forces/currents at play gives a huge advantage in troubleshooting an issue.

Safety Assurances

The safety assurance a professional electrician brings can provide major relief for homeowners. Not only will a professional safely go about their business, but they will take the steps to protect you and your belongings from damages as well. Plus, a professional electrician will be licensed and insured to protect you both in the case that something goes wrong. These are assurances that amateurs or DIYers can’t guarantee themselves.

Real, Long-Term Fixes

And while a professional works safely, they also implement the fixes the correct way to provide long-term relief from these issues. Instead of just getting your garage door to open once, they want to construct a clean system that will last the test of time. 

By the Books

To that end, the fixes will also be done by the books. This beckons back to the safety assurance; you can rest assured that a professional will safely install fixes and do them by the books such that they won’t present a hazard to you in your home. Faulty electrical work can cause a host of other issues and expensive damages. Getting work done right the first time by a professional is the best way to see real, long-term results.

For Garage Door Electrical Issues, Contact Santella Electric

When the electrical system that powers your garage door is struggling, if working at all, it’s time to bring in a professional. A licensed electrician is equipped to properly troubleshoot, diagnose, and fix many electrical issues that hamper a house. For safe, long-term solutions, there is no one better than the experienced electricians at Santella Electric. Leave the DIY electric work at the dump and let our professional hands safely get your house up and running once again! Contact us today to get your inspection scheduled and a fix on the horizon.