Doors and Windows - Garage Door Opener Woes! HELP!
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Peppermint
08-02-02, 07:46 AM
Hi,
HELP! :(
I've been round and round with my old Stanley garage door opener. Here's my sad saga.
House is about 10 years old. I'm the 2nd owner. The opener was installed already when I moved in. I've now been here about 6 years. Three years after I moved in the circuit board died. I ordered a new one and installed it myself. But I did have to have a guy come in and adjust the springs to make it work.
... Three years later ~ Present Day
About 4 weeks ago, the door began having problems closing. I called the same repair company and they tell me that due to the age of the door that I need new pulleys and rollers. They also suggest that eventually the springs may go bad. Well, long story short, I have them replace the pulleys and rollers (to the tune of $360) on the door itself. They leave and the door is working okay. The very next day ... same problem returns.
I call them and they return and tell me, "well Stanley's out of business and it's likely that your circuit board is going. You prob need a new one." Well of course I'm pissed cause I'm thinking "I paid you guys to fix the problem and I feel like this is a 'process of elimination' effort." Needless to say I get no where.
Meantime, the board the the opener is attached to is bowed outward, and I know its a matter of time before that goes :rolleyes: so I have someone come fix that, which they do. I've also ordered a new circuit board, and they try to install that, but the board doesn't seem to help and to make matters worse, they can't get the chain to stay on! :eek: :eek: They suggest that I just need to buy a new opener and start from scratch.
So here I am, having already spent too much money (I think) on this whole door mess. I don't trust the garage door opener person that I spent $360 with for new pulleys and rollers, cause they didn't fix the real problem anyway, so I don't want to call them for help.
But I need help! I'm nearly in tears over this whole situation and I just want it to go away! :(
So now if I have to buy a new opener, can anyone suggest brands/types to stay away from? And if you know of anyone reputable in the Northern VA area (Reston) that you can refer me to to help me get this installed, I'd greatly appreciate it!
:(
Pepper
HELP! :(
I've been round and round with my old Stanley garage door opener. Here's my sad saga.
House is about 10 years old. I'm the 2nd owner. The opener was installed already when I moved in. I've now been here about 6 years. Three years after I moved in the circuit board died. I ordered a new one and installed it myself. But I did have to have a guy come in and adjust the springs to make it work.
... Three years later ~ Present Day
About 4 weeks ago, the door began having problems closing. I called the same repair company and they tell me that due to the age of the door that I need new pulleys and rollers. They also suggest that eventually the springs may go bad. Well, long story short, I have them replace the pulleys and rollers (to the tune of $360) on the door itself. They leave and the door is working okay. The very next day ... same problem returns.
I call them and they return and tell me, "well Stanley's out of business and it's likely that your circuit board is going. You prob need a new one." Well of course I'm pissed cause I'm thinking "I paid you guys to fix the problem and I feel like this is a 'process of elimination' effort." Needless to say I get no where.
Meantime, the board the the opener is attached to is bowed outward, and I know its a matter of time before that goes :rolleyes: so I have someone come fix that, which they do. I've also ordered a new circuit board, and they try to install that, but the board doesn't seem to help and to make matters worse, they can't get the chain to stay on! :eek: :eek: They suggest that I just need to buy a new opener and start from scratch.
So here I am, having already spent too much money (I think) on this whole door mess. I don't trust the garage door opener person that I spent $360 with for new pulleys and rollers, cause they didn't fix the real problem anyway, so I don't want to call them for help.
But I need help! I'm nearly in tears over this whole situation and I just want it to go away! :(
So now if I have to buy a new opener, can anyone suggest brands/types to stay away from? And if you know of anyone reputable in the Northern VA area (Reston) that you can refer me to to help me get this installed, I'd greatly appreciate it!
:(
Pepper
Tn...Andy
08-02-02, 03:35 PM
Wow......I can understand WHY you don't want to call them again......$30 worth of parts and 30 minutes labor =$360.....nice profit margin.
I'd call several OTHER garage door companies and get estimates for a new door and opener.
I'd call several OTHER garage door companies and get estimates for a new door and opener.
Davef15
08-03-02, 09:22 AM
One of the networks did an expose' on just this sort of thing - garage door repairs in particular. Its too bad. here is what I would do.
First, file a complaint with the BBB is your area. It might not do any good but if the firm is reputible, it might get you some satisfaction.
Next, There should be some method such as a pull cord to disconnect the door from the operator. With the door in the down position, disconnect the door and open it by hand (the old fashioned way). The door should require very little effort to open. (especially with all the new rollers and springs) If it does not, the door is binding and the overload protection devices in the opener are preventing operation - as they should. The door must be properly balanced for an opener to work correctly.
here's the one that gets a lot of people a huge bill. Don't know if the law is state or federal, but if you have an opener that does not include sensors located just above ground level on each side of the door opening, a repair company, by law can not repair the opener. You have to buy a new one. If they are present, check the alignment and make sure the lenses are clean. These can cause some strange problems and these are one of the items the "shadier" "repair people" go after.
First, file a complaint with the BBB is your area. It might not do any good but if the firm is reputible, it might get you some satisfaction.
Next, There should be some method such as a pull cord to disconnect the door from the operator. With the door in the down position, disconnect the door and open it by hand (the old fashioned way). The door should require very little effort to open. (especially with all the new rollers and springs) If it does not, the door is binding and the overload protection devices in the opener are preventing operation - as they should. The door must be properly balanced for an opener to work correctly.
here's the one that gets a lot of people a huge bill. Don't know if the law is state or federal, but if you have an opener that does not include sensors located just above ground level on each side of the door opening, a repair company, by law can not repair the opener. You have to buy a new one. If they are present, check the alignment and make sure the lenses are clean. These can cause some strange problems and these are one of the items the "shadier" "repair people" go after.
Peppermint
08-05-02, 07:05 AM
Thanks...
I've been calling around and getting estimates for a new opener ... I've been quoted between $340 and $450 for a Liftmaster - 2 remotes + keypad. Hopefully by the end of today, I'll have a new opener and no more woe!
I've been calling around and getting estimates for a new opener ... I've been quoted between $340 and $450 for a Liftmaster - 2 remotes + keypad. Hopefully by the end of today, I'll have a new opener and no more woe!
GasGuzz
08-05-02, 07:48 AM
Garage doors/openers are no rocket science. Demand for a written performance warranty - if it doesn't function according to their proposal, they're liable.