Troubleshooting Common Automatic Door Problems

When they’re installed correctly, and maintained by a professional, automatic doors should operate flawlessly, for many years to come.

However, if you’re facing an issue with your automatic door, then keep reading.

We’ve used this article to share a handy guide to the most common issues with automatic doors, from the Access Innovations team. That way, you can identify what’s causing the issue, and determine how best to fix it, without delay.

Why is regular servicing and maintenance important?

If you have an automatic door on your site, regular servicing and maintenance are absolutely critical.

Like any mechanical system, these ongoing checks are key to ensuring that the door continues to function correctly.

Without a maintenance or servicing schedule, the condition of the door can start to deteriorate. As a result, small issues can quickly escalate, into more costly and disruptive problems.

The consequence is an increased risk of operational failures, safety hazards, security risks and operational disruptions.

Access Innovations are automatic door specialists, offering comprehensive professional servicing solutions, to keep your doors in optimal working order. If you’d like to enlist our team to support your site, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The most common issues with automatic doors

The most common issues that develop in automatic doors (and their solutions) include:

Sensor issues

If your doors aren’t correctly opening or closing (e.g. they stay stuck in one position, or open or close on their own accord).

Solution

This is often caused by dirty sensors, so start by trying to clean your sensor lens. Then, check for anything else that may be blocking the sensor. If this doesn’t work, it may be that the doors are misaligned, or that the sensors are faulty. In this case, you will need to enlist a specialist.

Power issues

If your doors aren’t responding to your commands, and are behaving as if they have no access to a power supply.

Solution

This issue is usually caused by either interruptions to the door’s power supply, or an electrical malfunction in the door. So, start by checking the power source that the door is connected to, and ensure the circuit breaker is not tripped. If there are no issues with the power supply, then you will need to arrange for a specialist to check over the unit.

Damaged rails / frames

If your doors are operating in an unusual or sub-optimal way (e.g. they operate too slowly, no longer operate smoothly, or make strange noises while operating).

Solution

This is most likely due to damage or misalignment in the door’s rails or frames. Check the rails and frames yourself, and see if you can identify any signs of damage. A specialist will be able to repair or replace these parts, and get your door back to full working order.

Obstructions

If your doors are generally struggling to fully open or fully close, or they stay open for too long.

Solution

Your first check should be for any signs of debris, dirt or dust that have built up in your door’s tracks or sensors. We’d recommend cleaning the area well, then seeing whether the issue is resolved.

Motor issues

If your doors are inconsistent in their movements, or emit loud grinding noises when they operate.

Solution

This is a sign of an issue with your motor. It could be that more lubrication is needed (check this first). If the issue continues, then your motor’s condition will need to be assessed by a specialist.

At Access Innovations, we specialise in the maintenance, repair and care of automatic doors. Our trusted team can provide everything from ongoing maintenance schedules, to 24-hour emergency support. If you’d like to find out more, our team are on hand to help.