What to do if your garage door opens by itself

Has your garage door ever stopped closing and re-opened by itself? Or — even stranger — has it ever opened completely on its own? I asked Tommy Mello, founder and CEO of A1 Garage Door Service, to find out if this is a common issue.

Mello confirmed this problem is real, and doesn’t blame anyone for feeling creeped out by it. “I find this phenomenon to be quite disconcerting,” he says.

While it may seem funny at first, it can create serious issues. “A garage door that opens unexpectedly can pose a security risk, so make sure to address the problem promptly,” Mello says.

After all, if somone with nefarious intent finds your garage door wide open, all your belongings are up for grabs. And if the garage is attached to your home … suddenly, this is no laughing matter.

Why Does a Garage Door Open by Itself?

These components can cause a garage door to open by itself:

• The remote: Remotes can have physical damage or conflicting signals.
• The wall switch: Wall-mounted buttons or control panels can malfunction when they get dirty or if there’s a wiring problem.
• The keypad: Similar to wall switches, keypads can have physical or wiring issues.
• The sensors: Sensors can trigger the safety response, re-opening a door before it can fully close.
• The receiver: The receiver on the opener can have signal issues or wiring problems.

We’ll go over possible fixes for each of these.

Change the Remote Batteries

Low batteries in your remote can cause false ‘open’ signals. Easy solution: Replace the old batteries.

Clean the Buttons

The buttons on remotes, wall switches and keypads can collect dirt over time. This buildup can interfere with functionality, triggering unintentional activation. (In my experience, DIY mechanical work can easily leave grease on the wall switch.)

A quick wipe down usually fixes the issue. If there’s dirt behind the button, refer to this guide for cleaning TV remotes. The steps are essentially the same for garage door openers.

Clear and Re-Sync the Opener and Remotes

It’s possible that opener uses the same entry code as your neighbor. This is most common in garage door openers from the mid-90s or earlier which used a dual in-line package (DIP) switch to synch remotes and the opener to a single code. (DIP switches are thumb-sized units containing a series of small, numbered on/off toggles.)

It’s possible to have signal interference with newer openers, although it’s far less likely thanks to rolling code technology.

Signal problems can also be caused by overlap with other electronics. “I’ve noticed that interference from nearby radio frequencies can sometimes unintentionally trigger a garage door remote,” says Mello. “This interference could come from your neighbor’s remote, a nearby radio tower or even electronic devices within your home.”

The solution? Clear your opener’s current set of synch remotes, then re-sync them. If you have a DIP switch model, simply change the settings in the opener and the remote. For a more detailed walk-through, see How To Program a Garage Door Opener.

Clear Away Debris at the Sensors

If your garage door reopens after you attempt to close it, chances are there’s something triggering the door’s safety sensors. Located at the bottom of the door frame, these sensors send an invisible beam to one another. If that beam is interrupted, the door immediately stops closing and reopens.

It’s a great safety feature that prevents accidents from happening. But harmless clutter from leaves or sawdust can interrupt the beam, causing the door to kick open unexpectedly. It’s also possible for the sensors to be knocked out of alignment, especially when moving trash cans and similar items.

The fix: Clear away any debris with a broom, and make sure the two sensors are pointing at each other.

There can also be something physically obstructing the door. This happened to me when I hadn’t fully pulled my truck into the garage. The inside lip of the garage door grazed the end of my trailer hitch, and the door immediately reopened.

Check the Wiring

A short in the wall-mounted switch, keypad or the opener itself can cause the door to open unexpectedly. If you’re comfortable looking at low-voltage electrical systems in the wall switch or keypad, check for damaged or loose wires. Reattach and see if that solves the issue.

If the problem is in the opener itself, it’s probably time to call in a pro.