We’re your go-to overhead door company. While we specialize in garage door installation, we also know a lot about garage doors in general.

Sometimes things go wrong and your garage door will start opening by itself. Sometimes a shoddy garage door installation can cause the problem. But even with the best overhead door installation, things can still go awry.

The last thing you want after buying a garage door from a garage door sale is for it to start opening by itself. However, sometimes things happen!

Don’t panic. Read this handy-dandy guide to find out what might be wrong and how to fix it.

Garage door opener

The remote that opens your overhead door is known as a transmitter. It transmits signals that tell your door when to open. Be sure that your transmitters are working correctly. Buttons might be sticking!

Also, check the wall openers. Buttons that are stuck may cause a continuous fire telling the door to open.

Make sure you’re not leaving your transmitter somewhere that the buttons may be pressed down accidentally, like in a drawer with other objects.

Lastly, try replacing the batteries. Dying batteries sometimes misfire and send signals randomly.

Frequencies and codes

The signal that opens your door works using a specific frequency. A neighbor’s transmitter can potentially use the same frequency that your transmitter uses. If you notice that your door opens when your neighbor does, your remote may have to get reprogrammed.

This is a time when you will have to reach out to a professional to help you.

Debris

If you’ve tried to close your door from inside your garage and it stops and reopens, this can be a sign of debris. There’s a safety feature called a reversing mechanism. It senses the floor to see if it’s clear to avoid crushing people or things. If it senses something, the door will open again.

This safety feature can be a problem sometimes. If you have a very sensitive reversing mechanism, even a pebble or stick can be enough to trigger it.

Weather can also set off this feature, like if there’s a buildup of water or some ice. It’s important to call professionals if you think there might be weather damage.

Safety sensors

One sign of a misaligned safety sensor is if your garage door keeps closing partially and then opening back up. If your safety sensors are even slightly misaligned, the safety feature won’t work properly.

There are two sensors that each send a beam of light. The beams line up with each other, and when it’s one stream of light, the door senses that it’s safe to close. But if one of the sensors is off whack, the lights won’t line up and the door will take it that there’s something in the way.

There’s an amber LED on the sensor that glows no matter what. But if the other sensor has a green LED that is flickering, dim, or off- and you’ve already confirmed that there’s no debris in the way- that means you need to get your sensors aligned by a professional.

Electrical circuits

While the weather can cause debris and buildup, it can also damage the garage door itself. If there was a recent surge or power outage, the electrical circuits that close and open your door may have been damaged.

This isn’t very easy to fix. If you think recent storms or power surges may have caused your garage door to start opening by itself, it's time to call a pro to come to fix it. You might end up needing an electrician to inspect your circuits for damage.

Control wiring

A wire runs from the motor unit in your garage (in the middle of the tracks on your ceiling) to the opener mounted on your wall. Wires also run from your motor unit to the safety sensors by the floor.

If one of these multiple wires has a short circuit or bare spot, it can throw the whole system off and cause your garage door to open by itself.

A bare spot might be caused by many things. Some common problems are staples or nails damaging the wire, mice chewing them, and friction.

No matter what, a pro will be able to inspect your wires and replace them if need be. It’s important not to do this yourself because of how dangerous electrical wiring is.

Springs

Springs are vital for garage doors to work. If a spring is broken, nothing will work. They are the main thing that makes your garage door tick.

Usually, you can see if a spring is broken, but don't touch it. If you try to replace it by yourself, your garage door may fall on you. Call a pro!

Our Arvada garage door service team's closing thoughts

It can be a real pain when your garage door starts to open by itself. The whole point of garage doors is to keep the weather out and protect your belongings!

But just Google "garage door installers near me" and you’ll quickly see that we’re the experts who can help you out. Garage doors are what we do, and troubleshooting is no exception!

When your garage door starts opening by itself, it can be alarming and frustrating. But the problem can be solved in no time with our help.

Whether there’s just debris under the door, your torsion springs broke, or the electrical circuit is failing, we’re here for you. We’ve seen it all and know what to do.