Garage door keypads are a great convenience for businesses and homeowners alike. They give your home or business secure, keyless entry with the press of a button. Like any electronic component, however, they’re not completely bug-free. When your keypad stops working, it can really put a kink in your day. The good news is that most issues can be fixed by some troubleshooting. Here’s how to troubleshoot and repair common issues with your garage door keypad before contacting professionals for garage door repair in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Step 1: Test the Batteries
Behind the majority of keypad failures is an extremely simple reason: dead batteries. Garage door keypads need to be powered up all the time, and forgetting to charge the batteries is a top suspect. Take the back off the keypad to reveal the battery compartment. Put in new batteries with correct polarity. Try the keypad with the new batteries in to determine if it’s operating again. If not, step 2 is called for.
Step 2: Check the Code
The keypad is also perhaps damaged due to an old or wrong access code. The keypad stores settings temporarily, or the breakdown may be due to a typo. To learn how to correct this, refer to your model’s manual and learn how to reset the code. It most often involves the action of pushing a specified “reset” or “learn” button on the garage door opener unit or keypad and subsequently inputting a new code. Test the new code a few times to make sure that it has actually been modified.
Step 3: Clean the Keypad
Dust, dirt, and even weather conditions might slow down the functionality of a keypad. Grime will accumulate between keys over time and cause them to be sticky or not work. Begin by drying the keypad face with a tissue. When cleaning more thoroughly, use a damp cloth with a little soap. Clean around each button carefully without letting water into the keypad. Allow it to dry thoroughly and try again. Cleaning your keypad on a regular basis will prevent issues like these from happening in the future and keep your keypad in top shape.
Step 4: Check the Wiring
If even with fresh batteries, a washed face, and a newly entered code your keypad still fails to work, so something else is present in the system. Inspect the wiring from the keypad to the garage door opener. Inspect for such open signs of duress, such as loose contacts or charred wires. While minor problems such as hiding away an exposed loose stray wire can just be repaired, it is advisable to keep calm and not tamper with the system.
When to Call a Pro
If a DIY fix is not possible, then it’s probably time to call a pro. Continued failure, complicated wiring problems, or failure of hardware components usually requires the expertise of a professional garage door technician. A professional will have the equipment and expertise to effectively diagnose the problem and replace or repair defective parts and get your system back up to full capacity stress-free.
Convenience Restored
A malfunctioning garage door keypad doesn’t have to ruin your day. These simple troubleshooting tips will assist you in determining most problems quickly and easily. Preventative care like keypad cleaning and battery replacement also extend its lifespan.
If you’ve performed these and your keypad still will not cooperate, go ahead and call in a professional tech. When you regain your garage access, you can once again enjoy the convenience and value keypads bring to your business or home.