Why won't my garage door open with the remote?

There could be several reasons why your garage door won’t open with the remote. In this answer, I will focus on two common causes – being out of range and a damaged receiver antennae.

One possible reason for the remote not working is that it is out of range. Most garage door remotes have a limited range, typically around 20 to 30 feet. If you are standing too far away from the door, the signal from the remote may not be strong enough to reach the opener and prompt the door to open. To test if this is the issue, stand within 20 feet of your garage door and try pressing the button on your remote. If the door opens, then being out of range was the problem.

Another possible cause for the remote not working is a damaged or malfunctioning receiver antennae on the garage door opener. The receiver antennae is responsible for picking up the signal from the remote and relaying it to the opener. If the antennae is damaged or not functioning properly, it may not be able to receive the signal from the remote, leading to the door not opening.

To check if the receiver antennae is the issue, you can visually inspect it for any visible damage such as frayed wires or loose connections. If you notice any damage, it may be necessary to replace the antennae. Additionally, you can try repositioning the antennae to see if that improves the signal reception. The antennae should be properly aligned and not obstructed by any objects that could interfere with the signal.

If you have tried both of these solutions and your garage door remote still doesn’t work, there may be other underlying issues that require professional assistance. It could be a problem with the remote itself, the opener unit, or other components of the garage door system. In such cases, it is advisable to contact a garage door technician who can diagnose and fix the problem.