How Do I Know If Someone Opened My Garage Door?
Has your garage door ever mysteriously opened by itself? If so, you know the unnerving feeling this brings on. It can put your home and family at risk. Therefore, it’s important to solve the problem quickly. Clients facing this issue may ask, “Is there an equipment problem or is it that someone opened my garage door?”
Why Would a Garage Door Open on Its Own?
Modern garage doors have sensors that detect objects. Even small debris or snow and ice can affect them. A blocked sensor can open the garage door, but this is usually when you’re trying to close it and it suddenly goes in reverse.
Another possibility is a problem with the garage door opener. The issue may be with either the wall controls or the remote. If the wall opener button is dirty, it can cause the door to go up or down. Fortunately, you can fix this by cleaning away any debris.
If this isn’t the issue, check the remote control. A sticky button, dirt, or a low battery can cause it to malfunction. Sometimes the door can open suddenly as a result. This can also happen if you hit a button by accident or something rubbed against it in your pocket. But if the remote or the opener itself seems okay, a wiring problem may be the cause; you’ll need a professional to address this.
Did Someone Open My Garage Door on Purpose?
It’s usually not that someone is playing tricks on you, but a phenomenon known as radio interference. A garage door opens and closes in response to a specific frequency. The garage door and the opener must be on the same channel whether you use a remote, indoor control, or passcode entry.
Therefore, someone may have opened your garage door if:
- A nearby radio, appliance, or wireless device operating on the same frequency interfered with it.
- Someone close by used a CB radio, police radio, or a garage door on a similar frequency.
- Your neighbor programmed their garage door to the same frequency; when they click the remote, your door is triggered as well.
To determine if your neighbor’s remote opened your garage door, ask them to test their opener at your home. This test will show if there is any interference. One unit or the other can be reprogrammed to resolve the dilemma.
Can a Garage Door Be Hacked?
Newer garage doors can change their codes automatically, so it’s less common for a hacker to find the exact one. However, this isn’t the case with many older units. If your system has a fixed radio frequency code, a code grabber can record the signal from the opener and duplicate it to open your garage door. An intruder has essentially hacked into it.
In this scenario, it’s hard to know if someone opened your garage door. The intruder targeting your home will often leave the code grabber hidden nearby when you’re not around (so it can pick up the signal when you unsuspectingly operate the garage door). They’ll then pick up the device in the middle of the night or when you’re at work.
But just because your system uses a rolling code or you have a smart garage door opener, that doesn’t mean it’s immune to being hacked. An intruder may try to gain control of the opener via your Wi-Fi network. To reduce the risk of trouble:
- Set up a firewall for your home network.
- Enable your smartphone’s fingerprint or face recognition feature.
- Don’t include revealing details in your Wi-Fi name.
- Choose unique, complex, and strong passwords.
- Use 2-factor authentication to make your account more secure.
- Use a different Wi-Fi network for smart devices so sensitive data are less accessible.
Call for Help If Someone Opened Your Garage Door
If your garage door opens for no reason or has any other problem, schedule a free repair estimate with Mesa Garage Doors. Our skilled technicians will perform an inspection and can complete any type of repair fast. They’ll also determine if the mysterious issue is due to a garage door opener problem, interference from nearby, or malicious activity. We’re just as effective at securing your garage door as ensuring it is in great condition. Book service online or call 714-613-0646 today.
