How To Fix A Broken Garage Door Opener Chain

As more and more people own their own garage, you cannot deny how necessary garage door openers have become.

I mean, after all, who like lifting that entire heavy load every time you want to open your garage door right?

There are lots of different types of garage doors in the market but today we will be talking about one specific type – chain drive openers.

Now, for all those who are not familiar with the term, chain drive openers are are mechanisms that open your garage door using a metal chain to drive the pulley.

It is one of the most common types out there as it is cheap and affordable making it really good for those who are tight on the budget.

But, just like every other type of garage door opener out there, chain drive openers are not invincible.

Eventually, at some point in time, they will eventually break down.

Now, what would you do if the chain on your garage door opener breaks down?

Well, worry no more, as we will get you covered on this.

Allow us to educate you on the basic things on chain drive openers and how to fix them when they break down.

So, are you ready to find out how to fix a broken garage door opener chain?

Repairing your broken garage door opener chain

Fixing your broken garage door opener chain can sound a bit difficult but in actuality, it can be summarized into four general steps and procedures.

As long as you follow these procedures diligently, then nothing should go wrong.

To start the whole task, here is what you need to know:

#1 Assessing the Problem

The first step to solving any problem out there is understanding why it happened in the first place.

Try to diagnose and see why your chain broke.

To do this, try opening and closing your garage doors multiple times using your chain drive opener.

If the door gets jammed while you are doing this, then it is possible that the problem might be on the chain itself, on the motor carriage, or on the motor itself.

Now, that you have narrowed it down to these three things, it will now be easier for you to pinpoint the root cause of your problem.

In order to investigate further on the problem, try unplugging your opener’s motor.

After that, manually check on your chains if they are corroded or rusting on the outside.

If the chain seems to be okay, then check the carriage and see if they are tightly held in place with no loose hardware at all.

Then lastly check the wiring of your motor to make sure that nothing is wrong with it.

#2 Cleaning/ Replacing the chain

After diagnosing the problem, it is now time to act on it.

Check your chain’s physical condition. Is it rusty? Is it corroded? If it is, lubricate it or apply lubrication on your garage door’s chain.

Applying lubrication will help loosen the rust and the corrosion forming on your chain’s surface.

Not only that, but it will also prolong the life expectancy of your garage door chain along the way.

If your chain is too corroded, you might have to remove it from the opener and soak it in lubricant for a few hours.

After soaking it, remove the corrosion on your chain’s surface by using a rag to wipe it off.

On the off chance that your chain is broken to an irreversible degree, then you might have to replace your garage door opener’s chain.

Worry not as this process can be easier than you can imagine.

#3 Fix and clean your garage door opener’s carriage assembly

After attending to the chain, move on your focus to the carriage assembly.

If your chain was rusty, then there is a chance that some of this rust has rubbed itself off on your garage door’s carriage assembly. And this is certainly not a good thing.

To deal with the rust, apply lubrication on the affected areas and leave it for a few hours. This should do the trick.

After doing so, reinstall the chain to your carriage assembly. You can do this with the help of a ladder.

Adjust the chain and make sure that it is held tightly in place to prevent any more issues from surfacing.

#4 Reconnecting the motor to the power outlet and testing your garage door

Last but not the least, plug and connect your motor to the power source and check if your garage door is now functioning as it should.

This is done to make sure that everything went well with the entire process and that it was completed successfully.

Conclusion

Broken garage door chains can be such a hassle but only if you do not know how to fix or attend to it.

But now that you have an idea on how to fix a broken garage door opener chain, then you shouldn’t have any problem, right?

If the instructions above are a bit unclear for you, you can refer to the DIY video below to help you along with your task.

If by any chance that after your attempt to fix the situation you ended up with a failure please do not hesitate to ask for professional help.

If you live in Calgary and are looking for a garage door repair company near you, you definitely shouldn’t leave Kald Gart Doors out.

Our company has been in this industry for 15 years now and still counting, servicing all kinds of emergency garage door services 24 hours a day 7 times a week.

If there is anyone who knows more about garage doors, then it should be us.

With our years of accumulated experience, I am sure that we can surely fix whatever garage door related problem you have.

You can reach us out at 587-316-9739. What are you waiting for? Give us a call. Contact us now!