Few things are more frustrating than a garage door that will not close, especially when you are trying to leave the house or lock up for the night. The good news is that the most common causes are simple. Here are seven to check, starting with the easy ones.
1. Blocked or misaligned safety sensors
The two small sensors near the bottom of the tracks send an invisible beam across the opening. If anything breaks that beam, the door reverses. Check for a broom, a trash can, leaves or a spider web in the way. Both sensor lights should be solid. A blinking or off light usually means the sensors are knocked out of line. Gently adjust one until both lights stay steady.
2. Dirty sensor lenses
Dust, pollen and Houston humidity can fog the lenses. Wipe both with a soft, dry cloth and try again.
3. Sunlight hitting the sensors
Strong afternoon sun shining straight into a sensor can confuse it. If the door only fails at certain times of day, this is a likely cause.
4. Limit settings on the opener
The opener has settings that tell it where “closed” is. If they drift, the door may stop short or hit the floor and bounce back up. Adjusting limits varies by brand, so check your opener manual or have a technician set them.
5. Bent or misaligned tracks
If the door rubs, shakes or stops at the same spot every time, a track may be bent or out of line. Do not force it. Running the door on a bad track can pull it off the rollers.
6. Broken spring or cable
A broken spring or a snapped cable will make the door uneven and heavy, and the opener may refuse to move it. This is not a do-it-yourself repair. See our guide on signs of a broken garage door spring.
7. Remote or wall button problems
If the door works from the wall button but not the remote, replace the remote battery first. If neither works, check that the opener is plugged in and that the lock button on the wall control is not turned on.
When to call a professional
If you have checked the sensors and the door still will not close, or if you see a bent track, a broken spring or loose cables, it is time to call a technician. Leaving a door stuck open is a security risk, and forcing a damaged door can turn a small repair into a big one. Our garage door opener repair and emergency garage door service pages explain how we can help.
Need help now? Call All In One Garage Doors at (832) 434-7291 for garage door and gate service across Houston, Friendswood, Pearland, League City, Pasadena, Sugar Land, Katy and the surrounding cities.