Topics Covered:
Key takeaways
- The 10 most common reasons a garage door won’t close are power problems, a faulty remote, blocked or misaligned sensors, wrong limit settings, track problems, broken springs, worn cables, extreme weather, an engaged lock and an aging opener.
- If the wall button closes the door but the remote doesn’t, the remote is the problem, and new batteries usually fix it.
- Safety sensors sit on each side of the door near the floor, and dirt or a bump that knocks them out of line will make the door reverse instead of close.
- Broken springs and frayed cables hold the door’s weight under high tension and should be repaired by a professional, not as a DIY job.
A garage door usually won’t close because of one of 10 problems, from a tripped breaker or dirty safety sensor to a broken spring or worn-out opener. Several of them you can check yourself in a few minutes; others need a technician. Even a small fault in one part can stop the door. RJ Garage Door Service handles all of them for homeowners in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Fayetteville and the Triangle.
Could a power source issue stop your garage door from closing?
A power source issue can stop your garage door from closing, and sometimes the cause is as simple as an unplugged opener or a tripped breaker. Garage door openers run on electricity, so with no power they can’t operate. First, check that the opener is plugged in (unless it is hard-wired into your home’s electrical system) and that the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped. If the problem continues, you may need a professional to check for electrical faults.
Can a faulty remote control keep a garage door from closing?
A faulty remote control can keep a garage door from closing, and it is one of the most common causes. Weak batteries, interference from nearby electronics or standing out of range can all stop the remote from working. To test it, press the wall-mounted button inside your garage. If the door closes, the problem is likely the remote, and replacing the batteries or moving closer to the garage will usually solve it.
Why do blocked or misaligned sensors stop a garage door from closing?
Blocked or misaligned sensors stop a garage door from closing because the opener reads them as an object in the door’s path and reverses the door. Most modern garage doors have these safety sensors (photo eyes), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission added a requirement for external entrapment protection like this in 1993. The sensors sit on each side of the door near the bottom of the frame, where they can best detect objects in the door’s path. Dust, dirt or small objects can block them, or a bump can knock them out of line. To fix it, clean the lenses and check that the two sensors point straight at each other.
Learn more about our garage door sensor repair services.
How do misconfigured limit settings affect a garage door?
Misconfigured limit settings make a garage door stop short or reverse before it closes, because limit settings tell the opener how far the door should travel. On most openers you can adjust these settings yourself. Follow the instructions in your opener’s manual, because a wrong setting can make the problem worse or even damage the door.
Can track obstructions or misalignment keep a garage door open?
Track obstructions or misalignment can keep a garage door open, because dirt, pebbles or rust buildup in the tracks get in the way of the rollers. If the tracks are dirty or blocked, the door may not move properly, so check and clean them regularly. Misaligned tracks are a different problem: you may hear grinding or see gaps between the rollers and the rail. Track misalignment needs a professional repair, since DIY adjustments can make the alignment worse.
Learn more about our garage door track services.
Can broken springs stop a garage door from closing?
Broken springs can stop a garage door from closing, because the springs carry most of the door’s weight and keep it balanced. When a spring weakens or breaks, the door may not close properly or may feel unusually heavy. A broken spring is a serious safety hazard, especially in DIY repairs, and needs a professional. The International Door Association’s care and maintenance guide recommends a monthly look at your springs, cables, rollers and pulleys and says to have the door inspected by a trained technician when in doubt.
Learn more about our garage door spring repair services.
Do worn-out or broken cables keep a garage door from closing?
Worn-out or broken cables can keep a garage door from closing, because the cables work with the springs to hold the door’s weight and guide it along its tracks. Over time, cables fray or snap, and the door gets hard to operate. Frayed cables are a serious problem since they are under tension and can snap, which can cause an accident as well as a stuck door. Inspect your cables regularly, but leave the repair and replacement to a professional.
Learn more about our garage door cable repair services.
Can extreme weather conditions stop a garage door from closing?
Extreme weather conditions can stop a garage door from closing, because big temperature swings and humidity affect how the door moves. In cold weather, metal parts contract and stiffen; in high humidity, wooden doors can swell. Weather can also throw sensors out of alignment or make them act up. In Raleigh, think of a swollen wood door in a muggy July or a sluggish one on a freezing January morning. Regular maintenance and a weather-resistant lubricant help the door keep running smoothly through both.
Could your garage door be locked?
Your garage door could be locked, because some doors have a manual lock that is easy to engage by accident, and a locked door won’t move. Check the manual lock on the door and any lock feature on the wall control panel, especially if the door was recently operated by hand.
Is an aging or damaged opener stopping your garage door from closing?
An aging or damaged opener may be stopping your garage door from closing, especially if it is close to the end of its 10 to 15 year design life. An old opener can struggle to move the door, work on some days and not others, or get noisier, and those breakdowns become more frequent with age. If you have ruled out the other nine causes, the opener is the likely culprit, and it may need repair or replacement. Age alone isn’t a reason to replace a working opener, though; if yours is 12 years old and still runs well and reverses on contact, you can keep using it.
Learn more about our garage door opener repair services.
If your garage door still won’t close, call RJ Garage Door Service at (919) 438-7447 for same-day service in the Raleigh area.
