"Open sesame!" Garage door openers are the unsung heroes of modern life. Without them we would have to actually get out of the car to open the door. With them we simply push a button and drive right in--unless the opener doesn't work (or the garage is full of broken stuff). It's a good thing that garage door openers are relatively low maintenance and easy to fix.

How Does It Work?

Components of a typical garage door opening system.

A garage door opener is an electric motor appliance that opens a garage door at the push of a button. The button can be one that's wired into the household electrical circuit or one that's on a battery-powered remote-control unit usually carried in a car. Most garage door systems have both. The button sends an infrared or radio signal to the control unit that, in turn, activates an electric motor with a track-and-pulley system that moves the door. Most garage door opener units also have a light that goes on automatically and shuts off after a pre-set interval.

What Can Go Wrong?

The opener may not respond when the remote or wall button is pushed. The opener may raise the door but not close it. The opener may run but not open the door. The opener may operate without a command. The door may not open or close completely. The door may reverse when closing. The opener may have to work too hard. Because garage door openers are little more than a motor and electronic controls, most of the service you can perform includes replacing batteries, testing the motor or controls, or lubricating and aligning mechanisms.

Fix-It Tip

At least once a year, test and replace batteries in the remote controllers.