Garage Door Opener Catches Fire

Published on By Champion Garage Door Repair.
(Last modified on October 18th, 2023)

December, 2022 – A Queensland mother of six and her children narrowly escaped a possible fatal catastrophe when their garage door opener spontaneously caught fire, bursting into flames inside their Edmonton home. Annalisa Buchanan, recounts the terrifying incident, stating that she had just finished working in the late hours of Sunday evening when she heard a popping and cracking noise coming from her garage. Without warning, her garage door motor caught fire, quickly turning into a life-threatening situation.

“It was stopping and shuddering; then we heard popping and crackling, then smoke and flames,” Ms. Buchanan reports, “We actually had the door that leads into the garage from the house open, and we heard and saw it happen. We were just lucky that we were awake.” Thanks to her quick thinking, Annalisa was able to get her children to safety and prevent further damage to her garage doors and property.

“It happened so quickly, but we reacted just as quick as the Ford Falcon XR8, was directly under it. It was moved out as I called the emergency services.” Thankfully, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services responded in minutes, extinguishing the burning garage door opener and helping care for Ms. Buchanan’s daughter. “I just wanted to say a massive thank you to the awesome emergency services fire brigade that came out tonight when my garage door motor had a meltdown, literally,” the grateful mother wrote in a Facebook post.

Garage Door Opener Catches Fire
Garage Door Opener Catches Fire

Other residents took notice of the story and began wondering if it was due to a faulty garage door repair or installation or if the garage door itself played a role. Some were quick to point out concerning aspects of their own garage door opener, “A few weeks ago I noticed our steel line motor, that looks like the one in your pics, has got melted plastic on the back of the case,” one user remarked, “I have had it switched off to be safe. Wonder if it’s got the same issue. Scary stuff.”

What Can Cause A Garage Door Opener to Catch Fire?

While a garage door opener may seem like a harmless appliance in your home, without proper upkeep, it can become a hazard. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, residential electrical fires claim the lives of over 485 people every year, and injure another 2,305. While a portion of these fires are due to appliance defects or electrical system failures, the vast majority are the result of poor maintenance and misuse of electrical appliances, overloaded extension cords and circuits, and incorrectly installed wiring. With so many incidents of fires occurring within homes, it’s important to understand why they occur so residents can take the proper precautions to prevent breakdowns and these needless catastrophes.

There are multiple reasons why an electrical fire may occur, resulting in devastating damage to property, garage doors, and possible loss of life.

  • Wiring Issues: The majority of electrical fires occur due to fixed wiring problems like old and decayed wires, main panels, distribution boards, and faulty electrical outlets. Plugs and cords also play a large role, including the misuse of appliance and electrical cords. Faulty wiring is responsible for around 33% of residential electrical fires within urban areas. These can include outdated or improperly installed wires throughout the home.
  • Misused Electrical Cords: The misuse of electrical cords is the most common and avoidable cause of home-based electrical fires, with many people overloading their circuits and poorly maintaining their plugs. Additionally, placing cords in high-traffic areas or running them beneath rugs can lead to increased fire risk.

How to Avoid Garage Door Fires?

While garage door fires can devastate a home, they are almost always avoidable. Regular inspections and maintenance by a licensed garage door repair company are essential for ensuring the proper upkeep and safety of overhead garage door systems.

Given their weight and size, garage doors can be extremely dangerous once they malfunction. One of the main objectives of regular maintenance is to keep the surroundings safe by performing inspections and subsequent essential repairs. During safety inspections, the responsible technician would likely identify faulty garage door parts and equipment that could also cause a fire, make recommendations and respond accordingly.

What to Expect During Regular Garage Door Maintenance?

Throughout scheduled garage door maintenance, a service technician performs a thorough inspection of the overhead garage doors, openers, springs and related equipment. This inspection may include:

  • Inspecting the garage door opener including motor, drive mechanism and force.
  • Inspecting the garage door’s overall condition, including its functional and structural integrity.
  • Adjustment and alignment of system components.
  • Test torque levels and balance.
  • Torsion system recalibration on roll up garage doors.
  • Hinge recalibration on single piece garage doors.
  • A safety feature inspection of automatic lifting devices
  • Inspecting the supporting brackets, fixtures, and garage frame.
  • Inspect and test all moving parts like bearings, hinges, and rollers.

Homeowners, property owners and property managers may want to hire a licensed garage door repair company that is well-versed in every aspect of maintenance scheduling, establishing and budgeting work priorities, as well as garage door repair and installation procedures. A licensed overhead door company have the experience to properly inspect garage door systems, the resources to complete repair and maintenance tasks in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and industry standards, as well as ensure that the equipment meets its operational requirements.

Regular service from a certified garage door repair company is the best way to ensure the safety of the residents, as well as reduce the chances of a fire incident and various breakdowns. Don’t neglect routine maintenance, ignore error codes and other warning signs; garage door opener fires can cause major damage to the garage doors and the property in only minutes, leading to costly repairs and possible loss of life.

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