What to Do If Your Garage Door Remote Isn’t Working. You pull into your driveway after a long day of work only to discover your garage door remote is not working. When you’re unfamiliar with how your remote works or the common problems that can arise due to regular use, it might be tricky to get your garage door open again.
A range of functionality problems might be at play, so you’ll want to consider a few before attempting to fix your remote. We’ll discuss the most common reasons garage door remotes stop working and offer solutions to ensure your remote control functions properly.
How Garage Door Remotes Work?
The secret to your remote’s functionality is a radio signal that can be set from 350 to 390 megahertz (MHz). The button on your garage door remote transmits this radio signal frequency and is encoded with a unique binary number so that the door receiver responds to your specific remote.
Sometimes the transmitter can be interrupted, or your signal might malfunction due to a circuit board issue. To help you troubleshoot this issue, we’ll describe these specific predicaments below and outline a few DIY fixes.
We’ll also offer some tips that might require a professional inspection to get your remote working again.
Common Problems and Solutions for When Your Garage Door Remote Stops Working
To get to the bottom of a non-functioning garage door remote, you’ll want to inspect it for a few key things before calling a professional. There are six common reasons your remote might have stopped working and some troubleshooting tips you may want to apply.
Problem: Drained Batteries
What to Do If Your Garage Door Remote Isn’t Working. One of the leading causes of a non-functional remote is depleted batteries. To diagnose this specific dilemma, try your garage’s wall-mounted control panel. If your garage door responds to the control panel, drained batteries are often the root cause of a non-functional remote.
Solution:
Luckily, the answer to depleted remote batteries is quite simple. Typically, garage door remote batteries will last two years. If your remote stops signaling to the receiver, you’ll want to replace the old batteries with new ones and test the remote to ensure it’s working again. Always remember to use fresh batteries that match the kind previously used in your remote for the best results.
Problem: Physical Damage
If your remote was dropped or stepped on, this can be why it’s no longer functioning. If the exterior seems intact, you might not even realize it’s damaged. Additionally, take note of weather conditions such as rain or snow that could have impacted your remote’s functionality.
Solution:
If you determine your remote was physically damaged, the only solution is to replace it. Remember to keep your newly replaced remote inside and away from rain, cold and other weather conditions that could affect it.
Problem: Disrupted Signal
Another common problem that might be causing a non-functioning remote is a disrupted signal. If you replace the batteries and your garage door won’t respond to the remote signal, the remote and door sensor signal might be interrupted by an obstruction.
Solution:
To solve a disrupted signal, make sure you are within 20 feet of the garage door before attempting to open it with your remote. Any farther away, and the signal might not detect your remote. If you’re close enough but the door opener still won’t respond to your remote, remove any objects that might be blocking the signal.
Also, check the antenna to ensure it’s pointing toward your door and that there’s no debris building on it. If you notice your antenna is broken, contact a professional to inspect and fix it right away.
Problem: Engaged Lock Button
Ensure you haven’t accidentally pressed the lock button on your garage door’s control panel. If the lock is engaged, your remote will seem non-functioning since your garage door won’t move or respond to controls.
Solution:
To disengage the lock on your garage door opener, press the lock button on your control panel. If the remote signals the door to move up or down, you’ve solved the issue. Also, make sure your wall control panel is still working by pressing it after disengaging the lock.