Automatic doors are a great thing. Many businesses utilize them to make it easier to enter and exit the building. However, even the best of these doors will sometimes run into issues that cause them to operate incorrectly.

The key is to be aware of common automatic door issues and their warning signs. This way, you can spot these problems when they first pop up and fix them before they have a chance to get worse and cause further complications. Below are a few things to watch out for.

Improperly Placed Sensors

Many automatic doors operate using motion sensors, often placed above the doors and on floor-mats in front of the doors.

If these sensors are not placed correctly, your door may fail to operate as it should.

If your doors operate correctly for a while and then start malfunctioning, it could be that one or more of your sensors has slipped, moved, or become non-functional.

Thus, it's important to check your sensors regularly to be sure that they are functioning and that they have not slipped from their proper placement. In general, placements need to be exact, for your doors to work as they should.

Insect Infestations

You might not think you have to worry much about insects affecting your automatic doors. Believe it or not, however, insect infestations can pose a major dilemma.

They can often invade and nest in security sensors, control boxes, and other components related to your doors. If the infestation gets bad enough, they can sometimes cause your door not to work correctly. Some types of insects can even permanently damage equipment.

Thus, check all door components on a regular basis, clean them thoroughly, and use approved insect repellents to keep these creepy crawlers away.

Motor Failure

Sometimes, your automatic doors may stop working altogether.

If your doors just stop working and you can't find anything that could be causing the issue, it may be that your motor has failed.

Motor failure can happen at any time and is quite common, in doors that see a lot of traffic. Fortunately, replacing your door's motor is usually an easy and quick fix. You can keep motor replacements infrequent, though, by always choosing the highest quality motor possible.

Now that you understand a bit more about your automatic doors and the problems they may face, you're equipped to make them last as long as possible. For more information, contact an automatic door repair specialist.