If a door, lock, window, doorbell, garage door, or garage access device in your Richmond rental is not working normally, start with the symptom rather than trying to decide what kind of contractor or repair it needs.
This part of the PMI James River troubleshooting library separates the most common entry, access, window, and garage problems so you can go directly to the useful first checks.
Which Problem Are You Having?
- Garage door will not open, close, or stay closed: use Garage Door & Opener Problems for wall controls, power, safety sensors, opener behavior, and smart-garage connectivity.
- Lost key, stuck key, deadbolt, latch, knob, or lever problem: use Keys, Deadbolts & Lockouts.
- Keypad or app-controlled door lock problem: use Smart & Electronic Lock Problems for batteries, codes, keypad behavior, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and common Schlage, Kwikset, and Yale systems.
- Door sticks, rubs, will not latch, slides poorly, or has a storm-door closer problem: use Door Problems.
- Window sticks, will not stay open, will not lock, has a crank problem, damaged glass, or condensation: use Window Problems.
- Doorbell or indoor chime is not working: use Doorbell & Chime Problems for traditional, wireless, Ring, Google Nest, Arlo, and ecobee systems.
- You need to change a garage keypad code or troubleshoot a remote/keypad rather than the garage door itself: use Garage Door Remotes, Keypads & Access Codes.
Many First Checks Are Ordinary Household Tasks
Depending on the exact equipment, reasonable resident troubleshooting can include replacing an accessible battery, clearing loose debris from a door or window track, gently tightening an obviously loose exposed screw, adjusting an ordinary storm-door closer control, checking a garage opener's Lock mode, or realigning an accessible garage safety sensor according to the manufacturer's instructions.
The fact that a task uses a normal screwdriver or requires removing a battery cover does not automatically make it repair work. The individual guide explains where the useful resident step ends.
Stop Before a Small Problem Becomes a Bigger One
Some conditions should skip normal troubleshooting. Report the problem when an exterior opening cannot be secured, glass is broken or loose, a garage door is crooked or off track, a garage spring or cable appears damaged, or an electrical doorbell component is sparking, unusually hot, smoky, wet, or has exposed wiring.
Do not force a door, window, lock, or garage door that is binding or moving abnormally.
If the Problem Continues
If the specific guide does not resolve the problem, the condition returns, or you cannot continue safely, submit a maintenance request through the PMI James River resident portal.
Photos and a short video of normal attempted operation are often useful. Include what is affected, what it does, which controls work, and what changed after the safe checks you tried.
For other maintenance areas, return to Rental Troubleshooting for Richmond Renters or the broader Resident Maintenance hub.
Published: September 2, 2026
