Electronic devices, like the apparatus used to remotely open your garage door, are susceptible to damage during a lightning storm. The voltage of a lightning bolt can vary from 40 kV to 120 kV. This much additional electricity surging through your garage door opener could cause serious damage to the circuit board.

Here are three symptoms you should be looking for to determine if a recent lightning storm has affected your garage door opener.

1. Erratic Functionality

Garage door openers are designed to be reliable, ensuring that you will be able to remotely open your garage door consistently. If you notice that your opener begins to act erratically in the days or weeks following a lightning storm, this could be an indication that exposure to high voltage lightning bolts has damaged your garage door opener.

Even if your home was not directly hit by a lightning bolt, the electromagnetic pulses creating by indirect lightning hits could cause your opener to short out. Contact your garage door specialist to have the circuit board in your remote opener replaced if you begin to notice erratic functionality after a lightning storm.

2. Loss Of Power To Opener

If your garage door opener suddenly experiences a loss of power, this could be a sign that lightning strikes have damaged the apparatus. You should begin by testing to ensure that the outlet your opener is plugged in to has a live electrical current running through it.

Using a voltage detector is the easiest way to check for power in an outlet. The voltage detector will light up and beep when in close proximity to live electrical currents. If the voltage detector indicates your outlet is live, a damaged circuit board is probably to blame for the lack of power. Contact your garage door professional for a replacement.

3. Changes In LED Light On Receiving Sensor

The LED lights on your garage door opener's receiving sensors are designed to indicate when the wiring connection is working and properly aligned. When a lightning bolt causes a sudden spike in the electrical current running through your opener's system, the connection or alignment could be jolted out of alignment.

If you notice that the LED light on your opener's receiving sensor is dim, flickering, or completely absent, you should realign your garage door opener. This should correct the damage caused by the lightning storm, and allow your opener to function properly once again.

Being able to recognize the signs of lightning damage to your garage door opener will allow you to address lightning-related problems as quickly as possible in the future.  

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