For garage door repair in Fairfax, Fairfax County, VA, call Carlton Garage Door Repair.
Openers in Fairfax homes tend to fail in one of three ways. The door will not close. The door will not open. Or it works, but the noise is driving everyone in the house up the wall. All three are usually fixable.
Door will not close
Most often the safety sensors are to blame. The two small photo-eyes near the floor must see each other. On a humid morning the lenses can fog over. In a tight townhouse garage, a bike, a recycling bin or a car door can knock a sensor out of line. Check the small lights on both sensors. If one is off or blinking, wipe the lens with a dry cloth and gently adjust the bracket until the light is steady.
Door will not open
If the opener hums but the door stays put, the drive gear may be stripped, often from pulling against a door frozen to the floor in an ice storm. A broken spring can cause the same symptom, because the opener cannot lift the full weight. If nothing happens at all, check the outlet and the breaker, then try the wall button. A dead logic board or a failed wall control can also cause it.
Noise
Townhouse garages sit right beside or under living space. A chain-drive opener rattling overhead can be heard throughout the home. Switching to a belt drive cuts that noise a great deal. A wall-mount jackshaft opener moves the motor off the ceiling altogether. Adding nylon rollers and balancing the door helps too.
Repair or replace
Fix it or replace it? A motor that runs well apart from one failed piece is worth a repair, which costs $135 to $260 for the diagnosis and a minor fix. A rattling old unit that has broken down again and again belongs on the curb. Its replacement costs $280 to $505 for chain or belt drive, or $465 to $735 with Wi-Fi control. Whichever way it goes, your figure comes before the work.
Blinking lights
Many LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers flash a diagnostic code when something is wrong. Count the flashes and mention them when you call (571) 736-2137. It helps the technician narrow down the problem before arriving.