Garage door openers can make your life easier, giving you a simple way to park your car without having to get out and wrestle with manual contraptions. Unfortunately, the automatic openers are far from unbeatable. While some problems are fixable, others require a complete replacement.
You’re hardly alone if you’re unsure whether you need a new garage door opener. Here are the five definitive signs that a replacement has become necessary. 
The Door’s Not Closing or Opening
A garage door opener is worthless if it doesn’t open or close the door. When your garage door refuses to budge, the first step is ensuring the track is unobstructed. Then, try replacing the batteries on the remote. The automatic opener is probably to blame if nothing physical keeps the door from opening and the remote is fully functional. In that case, the easiest option is to replace the faulty system.
The Door Suddenly Reverses Direction
Two reasons a garage door might suddenly reverse course while opening. One is that something is triggering the sensor, a safety mechanism that keeps the door from shutting when someone or something is in the way. Please take a moment to clear the area to ensure the sensor isn’t picking up a physical object in its path. The other reason for the sudden reversals is a problem with the sensors or the garage door opener itself. If that’s the case, a replacement is probably your best bet.
The Door Sticks
A garage door that doesn’t close all the way is hardly worth having. Not only will a half-closed door let the elements in, but it could also slam shut with somebody standing underneath. Rather than accept such a dangerous situation, take the plunge and invest in a new garage door opener. The replacement shouldn’t have any problem closing all the way.
The Opener Only Works at Times
A garage door opener is only useful if it’s consistent. An opener that only works part of the time probably has an issue with the wiring. In some cases, you might be able to get the machine working again consistently. The problem is that such a broken machine could one day close the door unexpectedly, representing a serious safety hazard. Calling in the experts for a replacement door is the best way to keep everyone in your household safe.
The door Makes a Lot of Noise When it Opens
While a bit of noise is normal when a garage door is opening, a significant amount of grinding or scratching could mean something is seriously wrong. At the very least, you should have a mechanic investigate the noise source. For older machines, the best option is often to replace the opener altogether. That way, you can have a reliable garage door opener that doesn’t drive you crazy with its constant racket.
