When a garage door stops working, the source of the problem could lie anywhere. Regardless of why your garage door won’t open or close, it’s best to know the most common causes and whether to call a professional.
Below are 15 common reasons why overhead doors won’t open or close along with solutions to fix it.
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- Photo Eye Sensor is Blocked, Dirty or Misaligned
- No Power to Operator
- Expired Transmitter Batteries
- Broken Torsion or Extension Springs
- Snapped Cables
- Misadjusted Sensitivity
- Remote Signal is Blocked
- Misadjusted Limit Setting
- Misaligned Door Track
- An Obstacle in the Way
- Deactivated Motor
- Lock Mode Inadvertently Activated
- Manually Locked Door
- Stripped Gear in Opener
- Keypad Out of Sync
1. The Photo-Eye Is Blocked, Dirty or Misaligned
If your garage door stops and won’t close completely, the problem could be a blocked photo-eye.
The photo-eye components are two pieces that align across each side of the garage door, roughly 4 inches above the ground. When activated, a pea-sized laser beam is sent from one end to the other.
Reasons for incomplete door closure include:
- An object or dirt blocking the photo-eyes safety sensors.
- Misaligned sensors.
Solution: Fix the problem by removing the obstruction or calling a service to have your photo-eye realigned properly.
2. The Operator Receives No Power
Sometimes, a garage door won’t open or close for one reason — the door operator has no power connection because of an unplugged power cord.
Often, a more serious issue will prevent an operator from receiving power, such as a blown fuse or circuit breaker. Problems with the circuit breaker should only be handled by a professional.
Solution: Plug the cord back in or have a professional service reset your fuses.
3. Expired Transmitter Batteries
If your garage door won’t open with a remote, the problem could be expired transmitter batteries. Check the transmission receiver inside your garage wall. If the door activates with a push, the issue is the remote and not the receiver.
Solution: Replacing the batteries should resolve this.
4. Broken Garage Door Torsion or Extension Springs
If your motor is still running but the garage door refuses to open, the springs may be broken or faulty. Broken springs are hazardous, especially if you try to fix them yourself so it’s vital to enlist expert help.
Torsion springs are located horizontally along the width of the garage door, whereas extension springs are on either side and raise and lower the door along its tracks. Each spring is rated according to its maximum number of cycles.
Solution: Once a spring has exhausted its cycles, it must be replaced by a professional garage door company.
5. Snapped Cables
While the extension springs provide tension as the door is raised and lowered, the cables that align with each tension spring are responsible for the physical act of bringing the door up and down. Cables, like springs, are fundamental parts of your garage door. Without a cable, your door is unsupported and can fall back to the ground.
Solution: Always rely on a professional service to repair and replace your cables.
6. Misadjusted Sensitivity
A stuck garage door is often the result of misadjusted sensitivity settings. Bad setting inputs can create misadjusted sensitivity on your garage door.
Solution: For this issue, call a service technician to reset the sensitivity settings.
7. The Remote Signal Is Blocked
If you press the button on the remote and the garage door won’t open automatically, something might be blocking the signal. Alternatively, you might be out of range.
The remote antenna on the opening device may have been obstructed or damaged. Ensure the antenna is pointed toward the door as it can get misdirected.
Solution: If the garage door opener is receiving the signal but not opening, the antenna may be broken, and you’ll need to contact a service technician for help.
8. Misadjusted Limit Setting
With a shut-reverse issue, the door closes as prompted and rises back up when it touches the ground. This happens due to a misadjusted limit setting on the opener. Incorrect inputs often create faulty garage door limit switches.
Since openers are programmed not to close on foreign objects, the door will automatically reverse itself.
Solution: If this happens, have a maintenance specialist inspect the limit settings on your opener and make the necessary adjustments.
9. The Door Track Is Misaligned
The tracks that guide the door must be straight and even on both sides. If either track becomes slightly ajar, it can slow the door’s movement. Pressure and natural wear and tear can cause misaligned door tracks.
Solution: Consult a technician to replace the tracks and get your garage door working again.
10. A Tiny Obstacle Is Present
If your garage door keeps reversing, a tiny object, dirt or foliage is likely obstructing it. Various items falling below the photo-eye beam can cause this.
The tracks also get lined with items that could halt and reverse the door. If something gets lodged into one of the tracks, the door might automatically reverse on contact.
Solution: To prevent this, inspect the tracks twice yearly and clean them. When removing all the obstructions and the door is still reversing, call a garage door technician.
11. The Motor Has Been Deactivated
Sometimes when a garage door won’t open or close, it could be due to a disconnected motor, meaning the garage door is not opening but the motor is running.
Solution: To solve this, reconnect the motor.
12. Lock Mode Has Been Inadvertently Activated
If you return home to find that your garage door won’t open as prompted, it might be because you held the button down too long as you left. Sometimes human error causes a stuck garage door. Pushing the lock button is a minor error with a quick fix.
Some garage openers allow you to put the opener in lock mode. You can activate this feature by holding down the button on your keypad for several seconds. Once locked, a normal button press will not activate the door.
Solution: To bring the door out of lock mode, simply hold the button down again for several seconds.
13. The Door Has Been Locked Manually
If nothing appears to be wrong with the opener, yet the garage door won’t open, you might have unintentionally locked it manually. A sign is when the motor momentarily runs when prompted but then shuts off without raising the door.
Solution: Disengage the lock to unlock it.
14. Stripped Gear in the Opener
As a garage door assembly ages, the stress of daily activity can have a cumulative effect on the opener. Once the gear becomes stripped, the opener will no longer function.
Solution: A stripped gear is a major problem. Call a technician to get the opener replaced.
15. The Keypad Is out of Sync
The remote is not the only activation device that sometimes needs to be reset. If your remote works but the keypad doesn’t, it might be time to reset the code.
Solution: In most cases, this issue can easily be handled with the help of a user’s manual or troubleshooting guide.
Contact Marvin’s Garage Doors for Service
As the largest, heaviest and most technologically complex entrance to your home, the garage door is one of the most important security features of your house. Whenever your garage door fails to function as expected, the problem should be serviced as soon as possible.
Marvin’s Garage Doors provides 24-hour emergency service for homes in the Winston-Salem, Wilkesboro and Piedmont Triad of North Carolina. Contact Marvin’s Garage Doors whenever you need garage door services.