How to Know When to Get a Garage Door Motor Replacement

Posted on: 8 October 2021

A normally functioning garage door opener is crucial for ensuring the smooth and convenient operation of your residential garage door, but it's the electric motor installed within the opener itself that makes everything else move in the right direction by transforming electrical power into motion.

If your opener motor is bad, your garage door will either work erratically or fail to work at all. Being able to watch out for the early warning signs of a failing garage door motor will allow you to plan for a motor replacement before you end up needing one due to sudden motor failure.

Here are a few garage door opener motor trouble signs that warrant getting a new motor.

Your garage door moves slowly during its operation

If you notice a drastic decrease in the speed at which your garage door moves when opening or closing, this may be an indication that the operator motor is nearing the end of its service life.

Garage door opener motors suffer wear and tear just like other garage door components, and may lead to sluggish door operation when they get too old.

Your garage door won't move

The garage door opener motor is what causes the tracks, rollers, chains, belts and other moving parts to move in the right direction. If your garage door won't open or close at all, you may have a faulty motor unit.

Your garage door opener vibrates strongly when opening or closing

Another sign of a bad motor is a garage door opener that vibrates strongly during operation. Observe the opener compartment when opening or closing the garage door. If it's shaking as if it might come off loose from where it is installed, you may need to get a motor replacement.

Your garage door is noisy

When your garage door opener is functioning well, the door should operate smoothly and quietly. If your door makes too much noise when opening or closing, this may be a sign that the operator motor is on its last legs. Some of the unusual motor noises to keep an ear out for include squealing, clanking, and creaking noises.

While you can get a replacement motor for your garage door operator, motor failure can also be an indication that it's time to replace your entire operator system assembly. To know which option is right for you, it's recommended that you consult a garage door technician. They can provide more information regarding garage door motors.

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