Garage Door Repairs for Recalls on Your Garage Door Opener
When scheduling a garage door repair for recalled parts, it’s important that you work with your manufacturer’s orders. What you’ll find within a notice of recall are specific instructions about what you can and should do. These instructions are critical to follow because of the risks you face when using malfunctioning devices. Your garage door opener plays a pivotal role in making your door open or close automatically. When the opener fails, your door won’t open, and a few hazards will exist that no homeowner should live with. Below are the key details to consider during a recall.
The Model, Make and Year
Start with uncovering what your model, year and make are. Recalls go out for specific products, and your garage door opener is no different. Don’t be alarmed if you hear about a recall for the brand you have. Not all of that brand’s products are under recall, so you need to be careful when reading the fine print you receive. Unless you have the right device, you won’t be able to honor any product returns or exchanges. Likewise, if you ignore a recall for the specific garage door opener you’re using, you will fail to find a solution or to trade yours in for one that works.
The Specific Dangers
When your opener has a glitch in it that comes from the manufacturer, then you can expect a few signs of danger that shouldn’t be ignored. Fire and smoke can come from your opener when that module is not functioning properly. If you touch these devices, you can also encounter a case of electrocution. Be sure to only work on your opener when you have the eyes and skills of a trained technician with you. Your opener can also cause your garage door to move in an erratic way, which is a falling hazard that can result in temporary or permanent injuries.
If It’s a Mandatory Recall
There are two basic types of recalls that can initiate your need for a garage door repair. When your recall is mandatory, it means that there are no other options but to get rid of your unit or to return it back to the manufacturer. Mandatory recalls are issued by the government, so there’s little leeway regarding what you can do. Your notice of recall in these situations call for you to follow the government’s instructions exactly as stated. Within your notice, you will find why the recall has been issued, when and what the dangers of still using your opener are.
If It’s a Voluntary Recall
The second type of recall is called a voluntary recall. This is when the manufacturer is the one who issued a recall that anyone owning the product can honor. Manufacturer recalls are beneficial because they often stop larger problems from becoming mainstream. Like a notice from the government, voluntary recalls will be publicized so that everyone understands the dangers, the nature of the issue and how the manufacturer intends to solve it. Recalls are not widespread, but they are possible, so be sure to invest time into understanding your options.
Contact Information for Agency Representatives
One of the things to look for within your recall notice is contact information. Businesses are likely to be flooded with questions and concerns during a recall, and for this reason, they often establish a dedicated line of communications for you. Record this contact information because with it, you’ll be able to speak more clearly about your concerns while finding out any special options there are in getting your resolution. In some cases, companies use a third party to handle their customer service during a recall. Be patient and direct when speaking to any reps.
Mode of Action, Replacement or Repairs
Another item to consider within your recall notices are your modes of action. You need to clearly understand what you’re required to do with your products. Within your notice, the options you have will be listed. You will be informed about what you need to do, be it returning your device, discarding or destroying it. In some cases, the law and the manufacturer allow repairs to be done instead of a complete return of your opener. In such cases, it’s important that you work with a trained professional who is briefed on the conditions of the recall and its remedies.
Legal Remedies for Sustaining Liabilities
For those who’ve already sustained liabilities like injury, theft or fire, you can follow up with your recall notice and find legal solutions to your personal problems. Your specific case, in fact, can be what initiates a larger investigation that will then lead to a full recall of your opener’s model or brand. Even when the recall has already been released, you can still sue the manufacturer due to their product defects. What needs to be assessed in these cases are your injuries or damages incurred. Without an injury or other form of damage, you’ll have a weak claim in court.
Your Garage Door Opener and When It Fails
Don’t be surprised if you need to schedule garage door repairs for your door opener. Modern garage door openers are reliable, but accidents and malfunctions still do occur. You will know that your door opener is failing when it simply doesn’t open or close the door. Grinding noises that come from the opener are another sign. When you see smoke or smell it, be sure to call a garage door contractor for help. Some issues with your garage door opener will cause your door to work at first, but then, it dangerously jolts downward. Here, a recall might be in order.
Getting Your Garage Door Repair In Order
Even when you receive a recall notice, consider speaking with a professional about what it says and how its solutions are achieved. A simple phone call takes little time and costs you nothing. Just make sure that the technicians you work with are licensed and insured. Professionals with the right legal credentials can also act as witnesses who are qualified to speak on your behalf. Get in touch with your contractor now, and schedule an inspection to find out effective solutions.
