Ah, the feeling of pulling into your driveway and getting ready to walk into your warm, cozy home. It’s been a long day at work—made to feel even longer by the fact that the sun seems to set after lunchtime these days. You reach up to your sun visor to press the button on your garage door opener and… nothing. You push it again and again, even getting out of your car in the cold to hold it nearer the door. What in the world? You know that there’s nothing wrong with your remote since you just checked it a few days ago. The situation is even worse than a broken remote. You have to reprogram your LiftMaster Chamberlain opener system! Shoot.
PS: If you’re relating to this story but you also wish that when you pulled up to your garage the doors looked like the ones in this picture, you’re in luck! They’re available in the North Hatley LP Design, in Moka Brown, with 8-lite Orion windows.
Okay, so here’s the probable situation. You’ve bought yourself a fancy new LiftMaster Chamberlain garage door opener and decided that you’re fully capable of installing it on your own. Or maybe the logic board in the LiftMaster needed replacing. Either way, we’re going to give you the safe and simple instructions on getting it up and going again.
Are You Up for the Job? Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You
Before you start taking your LiftMaster Chamberlain down and opening it up, make sure you’ve taken this life-saving information to heart:
- If you make adjustments that are faulty, or even just a bit off, the limits on the garage door travel system will interfere with how the safety reversal system functions.
- Your garage door can’t go up against too much force (for example, from dirt or ice in the tracks) or it will create interference for the safety reversal system.
- Old model openers shouldn’t ever use force adjustments in place of binding a garage door.
- After the reprogramming is complete, the first step is to TEST the safety reversal system on your garage door opener.
- If you have a large vehicle that almost touches the roof of your garage, make sure it won’t get damaged by the system. Check the clearance before bringing your vehicle into the garage.
If you don’t have a well-functioning safety reversal system, anyone who gets in its way (including your children and pets) could not only be seriously injured but possibly even killed by a garage door that closes on them. If you aren’t a skilled or experienced handy-person, do NOT—under any circumstances—take this on yourself. Contact a certified LiftMaster Chamberlain professional near you. These installers and technicians can do the work for you and give you peace of mind.
Don’t forget that the garage door is an incredibly large moving piece of heavy machinery. Probably the largest in your home. It’s basically a moving wall! The springs that hold your garage door in place are held there under extreme tension. You might know a great deal about many things, but how much do you really know about working motors?
Actual LiftMaster Chamberlain technician reprogramming an opening system.
12-Step Process for Programming the Travel on the LiftMaster Chamberlain with MyQ Garage Door Opener
- First thing’s first: Check that your garage door opener is closed but not disengaged. Your trolley should be near the garage door.
- Locate the buttons for the garage door opener adjustment. This location may vary based on the model of your LiftMaster or other Chamberlain garage door opener. The following picture gives you an idea.
- Find the black square button, then press and hold the Up arrow until it flashes or beeps. This signal means that your opener can be set to OPEN.
- Press and hold the appropriate UP or DOWN arrow until your garage is all the way open. This is your desired position for ‘UP.’
- Go back to the black square button; press and let go. The lights on the opener will flash twice, and the DOWN arrow will begin to flash as well. This indicates that your OPEN position is LOCKED. Now you can set the CLOSE position.
- Find the DOWN arrow. Press and hold it until your door is all the way closed.
- Press and let go of that original black square button, telling your garage door opener that your door is in the desired DOWN position. The lights will flash twice again and then the UP arrow will flash. This means that the DOWN position on your opener is LOCKED and you can set the force programming mode.
- Press and let go of the UP arrow. When your door moves to the pre-programmed UP position, you’ll see the DOWN arrow flash.
- Press and let go of the DOWN arrow. Your garage door will move DOWN, to the position you set. You’ve done it! Programming complete.
Things to Remember
- If you see the lights flash five times during the process of programming the travel on your MyQ garage door opener, the programming has timed out.
- If you see the lights flash 10 times during this process, you have misaligned or obstructed safety receiving centers.
- After you align or clear the sensors, you’ll need to perform an entire up-down garage door cycle with your remote. Then programming will be complete.
- The round, yellow button is for one thing only: programming your garage door accessories. Don’t EVER use this button to program your opener travel.
- Wait! Don’t stop here! After you make even the smallest adjustment on your garage door opener system, you HAVE to test the safety reversal system. This is the recommended process by US Inspect.
- Close your garage door with either of these choices: smartphone, keypad, remote.
- When you strike the 2x4, your garage door must reverse.
Replacing Your Garage Door Opener Instead of Taking the Reprogramming Risk
If just reading this made your anxiety rise a few degrees, or if you think you’re getting taken for a ride on the “You need to buy this, so you won’t have to feel afraid” train, just give us a minute.
There are 2 important qualities that the LiftMaster and Chamberlain garage door openers have—technological advancements from 1993 and 2012.
If you have an older model pre-1993, then you CANNOT reprogram it safely. You have to replace your garage door opener; reprogramming it is a huge safety hazard that isn’t worth the risk. This isn’t fear-mongering… it’s the truth.
Garage door openers made after 1993 (manufactured in the United States and Canada) are required to be made with two types of reversal systems for protecting those using them.
However, those systems made before the mid-90s didn’t take safety into consideration. Producers didn’t have to ensure that garage doors wouldn’t close on things—whether it was replaceable, like a scooter, or absolutely priceless, like your family pet, or even—horribly—a human being. This is awful to think about, but it happened, which is why safety measures are now in place.
The 2 Required Reversal Systems that LiftMaster Chamberlains Must Have
- System #1 – Mechanical: If the lower section of a door comes in contact with an object, the motor will detect the obstruction and go back up.
- System #2 – Photoelectric: There are two units that sit about six inches off the floor on either side of your garage door. One contains an infrared beam that you cannot see. The other is a receiver. If something is in the path of this beam while the door is shutting, the opener motor will automatically go back up and not close until the object is moved, and you shut the door again.
These sisters are so intent on their play that they aren’t thinking twice about that huge wall moving over them. No matter how many times their well-meaning parents repeat themselves: “Don’t ever get in the way of a garage door!”, the girls don’t remember. Sound familiar? But you don’t have to worry now that your garage door opener is made with photocell safety beams. When the wagon or one of the girls cuts through the beam, the door will automatically stop in its tracks and reverse back up, preventing injuries, fear, and even death. Now your kids can be kids and you can worry less!
Still need convincing that you need to upgrade or replace your garage door? Educate yourself further on the technology innovations brought to you by photocell safety beams. Learn about the urban legend of airplanes opening residential garage doors… it’s proven true!
If your LiftMaster Chamberlain opening system hails from the post-1993 era, and you’re feeling relieved that you don’t have to worry about anything getting stuck underneath it, and thinking about the fancy new whatever that you’ll buy instead of a new garage door opener… sorry. Unless your opener was made after 2012, there’s something else you should know.
You’ll want to make sure that your garage door opener is equipped with rolling code technology. To find out, look for the Security+2.0 label on your Chamberlain, Craftsman, or LiftMaster opener.
From 2012 onward, Chamberlain produced garage door openers with another new and life-saving innovation: Secruity+2.0. This technology (rolling code) makes your home safe against unwanted intruders by creating a unique safety code each time you use your remote to open and close your garage.
Each time you press the button, an algorithm “rolls” the remote’s code, choosing one of more than 100 billion codes. The old code will now be rejected, and your opener will only respond to the new, assigned code. Here’s the kicker: the same code can never be used again, so stolen remotes are useless to home invaders.
Where Do You Find Your LiftMaster or Chamberlain’s Production Year?
These are the main LiftMaster or Chamberlain models and the places where you can find their informational stickers.
Your garage door opener is made with a sticker containing all the important information you need to use it properly: the model number, serial number, etc. These will also prove useful when you are calling your local garage door specialist for help.
To find out when your garage door opener was made, you’ll look at the MFG Date (manufacturing date).
This FAQ sheet can also help you if you have a Chamberlain that isn’t a LiftMaster.
Your Garage Door Opener Needs to Be Replaced NOW But How Do You Start?
Let’s just assume you’re like the majority of the world and you don’t know anything about garage door openers or motors. You also don’t want to put energy into becoming the next neighborhood know-it-all. Here’s how you can figure out your options quickly.
Is your garage door ceiling lower than normal, or cathedral style? Do you want to use the space above your vehicle for storage? Maybe you even have windows over your garage door?
This beautiful, sleek garage door is the Vog Design with windows at the top. A garage door like this should have a wall-mounted system such as the LiftMaster 8500W. This Jackshaft-type opener for your home is perfectly engineered to fit your individual garage. It mounts easily on either side of your garage door (on the wall). It also includes a remote and a 1500-Lumen light that you can put anywhere in your garage for supreme illumination.
What if your garage door is attached to your home: below or near the bedroom, living room, or kitchen?
(Really like this 1-car garage door? It is the Prestige XL Design, Chocolate Walnut color, with Pinhead windows)
This means that you’ll absolutely want a door that runs with a QUIET motor. You’ll want to stay away from doors that operate with a chain system. They may be less expensive, but it’s not worth the noise they make! If your garage is near a living space you’ll want to choose one with a rubber BELT.
You might be thinking that we’re making too big a deal out of things. However, if you put in a loud, chain-operated system and then try to go to sleep while your teenage kids are coming home later in the evening, waking up the whole house, you’ll regret it.
LiftMaster has two rubber belt designs to choose from.
Coming in to replace the popular LiftMaster 8550, this model uses a rubber belt drive system, includes a battery backup, a camera, and two-way audio technology—all connected to the MyQ app. This means that when you use your garage door opener with your smartphone or tablet, you can SEE and HEAR what’s happening in your garage at any time. You can even talk back and forth!
If technology isn’t your thing, and you don’t care about seeing or hearing what’s going on in or around your garage, then you can choose the LiftMaster 84501 model. This is also a rubber belt-driven system that operates smoothly and quietly. You have the option for the MyQ app, but remember that a battery backup is not included in this model.
Discuss Your Options with the Experts. They’ll Teach You Everything You Want to Know about Overhead Garage Doors and Opening Systems
Choosing which garage door or garage door opening system to use is an investment that takes time and energy. You’ll probably only ever do it once or twice in your lifetime. This is different than a pair of uncomfortable shoes that stays at the back of your closet… you won’t lose sleep over that purchase. However, this one is a big deal that needs to be chosen carefully.
If you make a good decision, an opener system will last about 25 years, even if it needs occasional maintenance. Beautiful garage doors will also up your home’s curb appeal and add resale value. So why not take the time to talk to experts about how they can help you get what you need and want?
The experts at All-Mont Garage Doors can answer all your questions about garage doors and garage door openers. It’s not only our area of expertise, it’s our passion. In a quick and comfortable conversation, our professional team will get you going on your journey of choosing the right setup for your garage while staying within your budget.
Give us a call at 519-942-1956!
If you’ve already found the perfect garage door opener or door for your home, you can email us for a quote.
Want to get some inspiration by shopping around?
Feel free to look around our residential photo gallery. You can even use your smartphone to “see” what your favorite choices would look like on your home with our Design Centre. It’ll be fun and helpful!
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