My Garage Door Won’t Open, What Now?

If you go to open your garage door and it will not open or does not open properly, it could be a minor issue, or it could be a larger issue that needs expert repair. Troubleshooting your garage door issues can help you to find out the problem quickly.

Here are several problems that you may face with your garage door and how you can fix them.

The Door Is Locked

If the motor is running on your garage door, but it is not opening, you may want to check to see if it might be locked. Look to see if there are any parts that have slid down that might have made the access lock or look to make sure that you did not accidentally lock it and then try to open it.

Check the Disconnect Switch

Your garage door has a disconnect switch or knob that will allow for the door to be operated manually in case of a power outage. Look to make sure that the disconnect switch has not been triggered.

Your Remote Nor The Wall Switch Will Work The Door

If your garage door will not open when the wall switch is pressed, or the remote is pressed, the power source is disrupted. The most common issue, if it is just the remote not working, is the batteries. Try replacing the batteries and then see if the door is working. If it is not and the door switch is not working as well, it could be that the unit is unplugged or that the circuit breaker has tripped. Check to make sure that the motor is plugged in. If the motor is plugged in, look to see if the circuit breaker or fuse is functioning as it should. If not, you may need to replace the circuit breaker or fuse. If none of these work to get your garage door opened, your garage door motor may have burned out, and it will need to be replaced by a garage door professional.

Remote and Keypad Won’t Respond

If your remote and keypad will not respond, you may be out of range of the antenna. Garage door openers have small radios that operate them. If you are even a few feet away from what you are normally, it may cause the garage door opener not to get the signal. You will also want to make sure that the antenna is hanging downward and is not damaged. You will also need to check the battery to ensure that it is functioning properly. Another issue that may affect your keypad or remote is that it may be deprogrammed. This can happen due to many different factors. Reset the programming and see if that helps the issue.

Your Springs Are Broken

If you hear a sound that sounds like a snap or pop, it could be that the springs inside your garage door are opened. Springs are only rated for a certain number of years before they fail. This is one of the most common repairs. If you have broken springs, you should never try to open the door yourself as it could be very dangerous. You should only have a repairman fix this for you.

Snapped Cables

In some cases, if your garage door will not open, your cables may have popped off of where they are supposed to be. This is common when a spring breaks. The cable can cause damage to people, vehicles, and the wall. You will need to ensure that you stay back from it if you believe this is the problem. Never try to fix these cables yourself.

Sensitivity Is Incorrectly Set

The sensitivity can be off in both older garage doors and one that has been newly installed. If your sensitivity is too low or too high, the garage door will not open. You can read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to reset the sensitivity. If you have any issues, you can call a garage door professional who will be experienced in the right sensitivity for your garage door.

The Door Is Off Of Its Tracks

Your door will not open properly if it is off of its tracks. Look at the track and ensure there are no obstacles, bumps, gaps, or bends. Look to see if the door gets stuck or if you hear any signs of friction. If you do, you will know that the door is not sitting on the track properly. You can loosen the screws and help to the track back in place. You will need a rubber mallet and ladder. If you do not feel comfortable doing this step, you will need to hire a professional to fix this issue for you. Do not keep trying to use the door while it is off its tracks, as this can mess the door up and may cause injury to you or a loved one.

If you are having issues with your garage door, call Commonwealth Garage Door today. We have reliable techs that will be able to repair your door and get it open and closing like normal. Never try to repair your garage door yourself. Garage doors can be extremely dangerous, and there have been many people that have been injured by their own garage door. Let us take care of the problem for you.