Automatic doors are essential for convenient building access accessibility. Especially for users with mobility challenges or those transporting or carrying items. While automatic door repair often requires expert knowledge, special tools and spare parts, understanding root causes for issues can help keep your doors functioning efficiently. In addition to regular, professional this can preempt many issues before they escalate and cause interruptions to the user flow through your building.

Common Reasons for Failures and Malfunctioning of Automatic Doors

While there are many reasons that can be the root causes for automatic door malfunctions, some of the more common ones are:

• Misaligned Sensors:
  Misaligned or obstructed sensors can prevent automatic doors from opening or closing correctly.
• Damaged, Dirty or Obstructed Sensors:
  Dirt, debris, or damage to the sensors can impede their ability to detect movement or objects, affecting door operation. Obstruction of sensors can also cause unwanted nonstop opening and closing of automatic doors.
• Power Supply Issues:
  Inconsistent or inadequate power supply can cause the doors to malfunction or to close very slowly (other reasons why doors close slowly include: lack of lubrication, or mechanical wear).
• Faulty Door Mechanism:
  Problems with the door's mechanical components, such as worn rollers or tracks, can lead to improper functioning.
• Issues with Switch:
  If the switch of the automatic door is not working properly, this can cause the door to not open, or to run too slowly.
• Motor Attrition:
  Over time, the motor of the automatic doors wears out. Without proper maintenance this will eventually lead to failures or slow operation.
• User Interference:
  User interference with the door closing mechanism (i.e. by physically obstructing the door's tracks) may lead to calibration issues, or even damage the motor.
• Software or Programming Glitches:
  Software issues or glitches in the programming of automatic doors can lead to erratic operations.

Automatic Door Routine Maintenance Tasks

To maximize performance and minimise disruptions, regular maintenance of automatic doors is crucial. Regular maintenance includes:

• Clearing the automatic door tracks of debris and rocks that could cause calibration issues or damage the door tracks.
• Inspecting the door glass, frames and other hardware components for visible damage.
• Checking the wiring and power supply of the door to prevent electrical failures.
• Lubricating and inspecting the door’s motor as and when needed (based on manufacturer’s recommendations).
  
  

Things to Avoid to Prevent Automatic Door Damage

One problem with automatic doors is that it is difficult to pause operations if the doors are essential to the uninterrupted user flow through a building. However, to prevent more severe damage it is important to suspend operations if the following conditions are observed:

• Slow Door Running Speed: If the door switch isn't working properly and starts running slowly, this can point to a number of different causes, including motor issues.
• Non-Stop Opening and Closing: This is usually caused by sensor issues or sensor obstruction. Check the sensor pathway and the sensor functionality.
• Door Jittering and Shaking: When automatic doors movement is no longer smooth, this can indicate mechanical problems, such as misaligned tracks, worn components, misalignment or an obstructed door track.
• Door Not Opening: This could be due to power issues, faulty sensors, or mechanical blockages.
  
  

Overall, it’s best to avoid the above scenarios by adhering to a comprehensive maintenance plan and to avoid disruption due to bigger and potentially more costly repairs. With proper care and regular door maintenance many common issues of automatic doors can be avoided. Contact our local team to learn how we can best support your automatic door maintenance or help you in case urgent repair is needed.