Why Is the Light on My Garage Door Opener Flashing?

by Tony Hall - More by Tony Hall

Why are the lights on your garage door opener blinking or flashing? This is a common question when it comes to garage door troubleshooting. You likely noticed the problem one day when you went out to get in your car. It might be when you got home in the evening. That light was not blinking the day before though. If you are lucky, the garage door will open when you hit the clicker button. However, often, if the lights on the opener are flashing or blinking, you may not have a working door opener. Getting the opener to work is critical for both commercial and residential buildings.

What could be going on with your garage door opener?

The lights on the door opener are indications of a problem. Every door opener manufacturer has their own set of lights and codes. They can vary a bit. However, the conditions that cause them to flash are pretty common:

• Issues with battery - Some door openers have a built-in battery that allows it to keep working even if the power goes out. When the battery is struggling, it will turn on an indicator light.
  
  
• Wrong mode - Garage door openers have different modes besides just normal operations. If the opener is in the wrong mode, it will begin to flash the lights when you try to open or shut the door.
  
  
• Problems with sensors - Your garage or overhead door has a safety sensor system attached to it. If there are problems with the sensors, it will not allow the door to either open or close fully and the opener lights will start flashing.
  
  
• Problem with the opener - The opener is a machine. If something is going wrong with any part of the machine, you will see indicator lights. Quite often, the number of flashes and pauses can show the exact problem the opener is detecting.
  

What can you do about getting the garage door opener to stop flashing and start working?

Calling in professionals is the best answer for this problem. A professional garage door company can diagnose the problem and give you an idea of the options and prices available. It may be something as simple as changing a battery or resetting the opener mode. Or, it could be a major issue with the opener or sensor system that requires a repair or a complete replacement. The only way to tell is to have a professional come out and take a look at it. Trying to fix the problem yourself may end up causing more damage and costing you more money in the long run. Therefore, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Who should you call when you experience problems with your garage door opener?

If you are having trouble with your garage door opener, give the premier Amarillo garage door company, Willow Creek Overhead Door, a call. This family owned and operated business has proudly served the Amarillo, Texas and Texas Panhandle areas for more than 10 years. They are experts in residential and commercial overhead doors, operators, and openers so if you are in need of professional, quality service and honest, reasonable prices, contact Willow Creek Overhead Door today.

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photo credit: “Caveman Chuck” Coker via photopin cc