Garage Door Opens Automatically: Common Causes and How to Fix Them

Garage doors can sometimes open unexpectedly, without you even having to press any remote or button. If this has happened to you before, you may have found it quite confusing and troubling. In cases where the garage door opens by itself, many people refer to this as "phantom operation." This type of issue is inconvenient and can leave your home vulnerable, creating a serious security threat. Luckily, garage doors opening randomly usually have relatively easy to identify and fix causes.

Multiple Reasons Why Garage Doors Operate Independently (with Solutions)

Remote Control or Wall-mounted Button Stuck

A stuck remote control or wall-mounted button could be a reason why the garage door opens unexpectedly. Over time, moisture, grime, or wear may have caused the buttons to become stuck thus continuing to send a signal to your garage door opener. Pressure applied to a remote that is stored inside the console of your vehicle, a purse, or a backpack can also cause activation of the door unexpectedly.

Solution:

First, inspect your garage door remote controls/wall-mounted buttons. Ensure that none of the buttons are sticking or being pressed unintentionally. Clean around these controls with a dry cloth and to prevent accidental activation, keep the remotes in areas where they will not get smashed/pressed by other materials. Be sure to check the batteries in your remotes as weak batteries can give off erratic signals. If your remote or wall-mounted switch continues to malfunction, you will probably have to replace it.

Signal Interference or Crossed Signals

Garage door openers work through wireless communication, and this can sometimes be interfered with. Older garage door openers used to be especially susceptible to "crossed signals," or signal interference. A transmitter located nearby may have the ability to remotely activate a garage door if it overlaps in frequency. Other electronic devices close to the same frequency can also create crossed signals.

To Fix:

If you believe there has been some signal interference, you need to reset your garage door opener and any remotes so that they are all set to a new code. Most New garage doors have a rolling code feature that eliminates most of the chance of interference. If you have an old model garage door opener, it may be better for you to update your current garage door opener to one that has both new security features, and better reliability.

Obstructed or Misaligned Safety Sensors

Garage doors have safety sensors, installed at each end of the tracks on both sides of each garage door. Safety sensors tell the garage door system when something is in the way and it prevents the garage door from closing on that object, be it a person or a car. With the safety sensor being obstructed, having dirt on the lens of a safety sensor, or misalignment of safety sensors allows for a garage door to stop and reverse back to the open position upon closing.

To Fix:

Inspect the area around the garage door safety sensor and remove any objects that may block the safety sensor beam, as well as any dirt and debris that may cover the safety sensor lenses. Wipe down the safety sensor lenses with a soft cloth. Then ensure there is proper alignment between both safety sensors. When aligned properly, you will see solid indicator lights on both sensors. Once both safety sensors have been properly cleaned and aligned, test your garage door again to ensure it can fully close without having too automatically open again.

Garage Door Systems – Electrical Wiring Issues

Garage Doors operate on low voltage wiring that connects the garage door opener to the wall controls and safety sensors. If that wiring is harmed in any way such as having frayed or bare wires, it creates a short circuit which could be why your door opens and closes sporadically.

To fix this:

Unplug the garage door opener first. Then visually check the wiring that connects both the wall control and the sensors. Look for signs of damage (frayed wires), wear or staples or nails that may have cut through the insulation. Minor damages, like small damages, can be covered temporarily with electrical tape but major damages need professional help to replace the damaged wiring and/or component(s).

Other Possibility: Garage Door Opener’s Limit Settings

Garage Door systems (Openers) have both Up and Down limit settings that inform the garage door opener how far the door can travel when opening and closing. If either limit is not set properly, the opener may think that the door has not fully closed and reverse back open when it is closed.

To monitor:

Follow the instructions for your garage door opener to find the location for the Up-limit control and Down limit control. By turning the Down limit setting (small adjustments) to ensure the door fully contacts the ground without reversing back open. Test the garage door after each adjustment. If the problem still exists after adjusting, there is a possibility that you will need a trained technician to perform the recalibration process.

Other Potential Issue: Failing Garage Door Opener Circuit Board

If you have gone through all the above issues and none have resolved the issue with your garage door being opened on its own, then the issue may relate to a defective Garage Door Opener’s Circuit Board. Age, power surge(s) and/or defective internal components of the garage door opener may cause the opener to act erratically, opening and closing at its own command instead of your command.

To resolve the issue:

Unplug the Garage Door Opener for a few minutes and then plug the unit back in again to reset the system. If your issue recurs, contact a technician for diagnosis. A qualified technician can determine if the circuit board needs to be replaced or if you must replace the whole garage door opener.

Why Trust the OC Garage Door Guys?

When a garage door opens on its own, it usually is an issue that requires professional evaluation so as not to create any harm or safety issues for your home. The OC Garage Door Guys are equipped to help with precision and absolute care.

The crew consists of experienced, certified technicians with extensive knowledge of every type of garage door system, including those manufactured years ago to newer smart-type garage door openers.

The OC Garage Door Guys pride themselves on being fast to reach you, providing same-day service when needed, and having 24/7 emergency service available so your family can rest assured that your home is always safe and secure.