Garage door notes
A door that will not lift. A spring that snapped. What to do next.
Popular issues
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power-outage
The power is out and the car is stuck in the garage
Power out and the garage door won't open? Pull the release only with the door closed, lift by hand if it feels light, and stop if it feels heavy.
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opener-hums
Opener hums but the door stays shut
Motor hums and the door stays put? Usually a broken spring, a popped trolley, a jammed track, or a lock still on. Stop mashing the button and sort the fork.
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keypad-dead
Keypad beeps but the door ignores you
Garage door keypad beeps but the door won't open? Usual causes are dead keypad batteries, lock mode on the wall button, or a code lost after a power blip.
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emergency-release
You yanked the red cord and the opener will not grab
Pulled the red emergency cord and the opener won't reconnect? Line up the trolley, check the door rolls by hand, and stop if it feels heavy or binds.
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blinking-sensors
Those little lights by the floor keep blinking
Garage door sensor light blinking and the door won't close? Usual causes are dirty lenses, sun glare, a bumped bracket, or a loose sensor wire.
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opener-gear
Opener grinds like gravel and the door barely moves
Garage door opener grinding but the door barely moves? Look for nylon gear crumbs, a creep then stall pattern, or a tired spring making the motor strain.
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stuck-midway
Garage door stuck halfway and won’t budge
A door stuck halfway usually means a broken spring or cable, a jammed track, or ice. Stop pressing the button, keep clear, and have a pro check the springs.
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phantom-open
Garage door opens by itself at night
Usually a stuck wall button, a remote pressed under a seat, an old keypad code, or a board after a power blip. Unplug remotes and check the wall button first.
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remote-dead
You hit the remote and nothing happens
Garage door remote not working and the opener stays silent? Check batteries, the wall lock button, power to the opener, and whether the remote needs a relearn.
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wont-close
Door stops a few inches off the floor
Garage door won't close all the way? A strip of daylight under the seal usually means the travel limit, a late reverse, a new seal, ice, or a spring.
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off-track
Door jammed halfway with a roller hanging out
A roller outside the steel track means the door is off track. Stop the opener, keep people clear, and have a pro reseat or repair the track and check hardware.
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cables
Garage door cable looks frayed and one side hangs lower
A low corner usually means a cable frayed, stretched, or jumped its drum. Stop the opener, keep people clear, and have a pro fix the cable and check springs.
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rollers
Garage door screeches every time it opens
Squeaky garage door? Usually dry or worn rollers and hinges, not the opener. If rollers still spin, light lube quiets it. Cracked ones need replacing.
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close-reverse
Door starts closing then climbs right back up
Garage door starts to close then goes back up? Reversing midway usually points to the safety eyes. Touching the floor then reversing points to travel or force.
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torsion-spring
That bang from the garage is usually the spring
Heard a bang and the garage door will not lift? Signs of a broken torsion spring, how to spot a gap in the coil, and why to leave the spring alone.