Troubleshooting Stanley Garage Door Openers: Do It Yourself
Stanley garage door openers used to be one of the most popular products in the field. However, the former colossal manufacturer of residential garage door openers has long since gone out of business, leaving in its wake many homeowners still dependent on their products for residential security and convenience of access. As time goes by, more and more people are replacing their Stanley garage door openers with newer devices, as they’ve run into trouble trying to procure new garage door opener parts or warranty-covered service.
If you have run into troubleshooting problems with your garage door opener, how ever, you might want to consider fixing it before making the investment of purchasing and installing a new one. Your first stop should be your old user manuals, assuming you still have them – the odds are pretty good that your problem may be fixable using the manufacturer’s original instructions. If you can’t find them, try searching online – you may be surprised at how easy it is to find older user manuals for Stanley garage door openers for download on the web.
One problem that can be resolved relatively quickly is a nonfunctional wall button. In all probability, the reason the button isn’t working is that wiring has been broken or shorted due to overuse. To see if this is the case, disconnect the wires from the back of the garage door opener and use a screwdriver or similar metal appliance to generate conductance across the wire terminals (make sure you have a rubber handle or glove between you and the metal at all times). If the opener functions during this procedure, then all you need to do is replace the old wires.
Should you encounter troubleshooting problems even after your perusal of the manual, it’s probably the time to seek out a professional to service your machine. First, check the manufacturing date of your garage door opener – it should be listed in the manual or on a sticker somewhere on the device. If it was manufactured prior to 1997, you’re in luck. Before 1997, Stanley garage door openers were still being produced by Stanley Works, the original manufacturer. Post 1997, Whistler Corporation, which eventually filed for bankruptcy protection, produced Stanley garage door openers. Since the Stanley Works company still exists, the company is still required to take responsibility for garage door openers manufactured before 1997, and, luckily, many of the company’s older models are protected by a lifetime warranty. These include Model AT2010 AND Model AT2020. Assuming you still have a copy of your product warranty, you can contact Stanley Works for technical support regarding these garage door openers.
If you’re the not-so-lucky owner of a later model, you’ll probably have to hire an independent contractor for professional servicing. Many professional repair technicians are knowledgeable regarding the workings of various garage door opener brands. Since Stanley garage door openers were quite common and are only slowly being phased out, most experienced technicians will be able to successfully repair your device. If you need to replace any part, your best bet is to browse online parts suppliers, and contact them to determine if they have any leftover parts for sale. Due to the diminished demand for such components, you’ll often be able to get them at discount. Owning a Stanley garage door opener may be a mite bit troublesome when hardware issues arise. With a little ingenuity and research, however, you can extend the working life of your machine, and save the hassle and expense of buying and installing an entirely new system.
