Automatic doors are complicated machinery that is always in motion. When they break down, there are many parts that could be the source of your issue. Ultimately, you will want a professional’s help to find the problem, fix it, and even provide maintenance to prevent breakdowns in the first place. But, if you want to understand what may have gone wrong with your door for yourself, we get it, and we’re happy to explain the typical issues.
We’ll discuss the potential answers to why your automatic doors stopped working below.
Sensor Issues
Some of the most common automatic door issues, like slow or fast opening or closing, are due to problems with the sensors. In a single sensor, there are two components, including a motion sensor and a presence sensor (the latter is also called a safety sensor.) As you can imagine, these are delicate parts that may suffer problems.
Motor Problems
The motor is what actually powers the door to open or close it. Like other motors, it can suffer problems that prevent it from starting up or that make it run slowly. Motors on automatic doors are typically replaced when they develop problems as opposed to being repaired.
Broken Controller
The controller is like the connection point between the motor and the sensors. The sensors send input to the controller, and it controls the motor based on this input. When the controller is broken, it may stop sending signals to the motor to open and close the door, keeping it stuck. Or it may cause other issues.
Sometimes when you have an issue with the controller, it is not because it has suffered any damage but because it has been set incorrectly. Many controllers allow you to adjust the speed and frequency of the door. You may want to try adjusting the controller before assuming that it is broken. Or, your door technician will check before they simply advise that you replace it.
Track Problems
The track on an automatic door is the system that holds it stably in place while it opens and closes. It is like the track in a window. Problems with the track are usually due to repeated physical blows. When they get bent out of shape, they can prevent the door from functioning properly.
There are also rollers and roller guides in the track that may suffer damage and need repair.
The Need for Maintenance
It is important to have professional maintenance on your automatic door in order to keep it working for as long as possible without the need for major repairs. Maintenance will extend the life span of your door and will help you avoid the circumstance where it has broken entirely, and people cannot easily get in and out of your property.
At CLAD, we also have a Retro Kit that we can use on nearly all makes and models of automatic doors. These kits allow us to easily switch out all of the major components of your automatic door in Jackson when it needs repair. This ensures all parts will function together properly moving forward.
