12 Common Resons Why Your Garage Door Won’t Open

When you have a car, you probably use your garage door daily. Some days you need to open and close it a few times. So, when it happens that you can’t move a car because something has gone wrong with the door, you will probably get annoyed.

Fortunately, the problems you can have with the garage door that won’t open are mostly simple and easily solvable. There are many types of garage doors. However, the way you can solve any of the listed problems is usually the same for almost every model.

Common Reasons Why Garage Door not Opening

1. Dead Batteries

It may sound ridiculously simple, but the first things you need to check are the batteries in the remote. They have an expiration date, and you can easily forget that years have come since you last replaced them.

You can check the transmission receiver inside your garage if you don’t have a new battery at hand. If you manage to open the garage door, you can be sure that it is about a battery.

So, you can consider yourself lucky since it is the simplest possible solution that doesn’t require repairs or calling service. Go to the local store with old batteries and buy the same model. Keep in mind that some remotes have a screwed-on battery cover for added safety.

2. Power Source

Sometimes, the reason the garage door won’t open is an issue with the power source. First, you should check if there is a problem with an unplugged power cord. If this is not the case, check the working socket by plugging the cable into another one.

If everything works properly and the door is still closed, examine the fuse box. Even a small change in voltage can trip the fuse. Change it and try again. However, if you discover that you have the problem with the circuit breaker, you should call the electrician.

Finally, if the problem occurs during the winter months, you should consider the possibility of power outages. Check to see if you have electricity in the rest of the house. In some cases, the whole street may have a power outage. In that case, wait for the electricity supply service to resolve the problem.

3. Locked Door

Since some garages have manual locks that look like a handle on the inside, you should consider the possibility that some other member of your household can lock the garage door from the inside. Also, someone may accidentally hook the handle while doing something in the garage. As a result, you won’t be able to open the garage door.

On the other hand, some garages have lock mode. If you keep the button longer than necessary after leaving the house, you will activate that lock mode. In such a case, you can’t open the garage door by simply pressing a button. So, you need to disable the lock mode by holding the button for at least ten seconds.

4. The Torsion Springs

The torsion springs are parts that lift and lower the garage door by running horizontally over the door’s width. However, springs can wear out over time, and the garage door will become too heavy for them.

If you suddenly hear a loud sound in the garage, it is probably the result of torsion springs broke. The sound reminds of a firecracker or a gunshot.

Once they break, you won’t be able to open the garage door until the professional comes to replace the springs. That is one of the most severe issues with a garage door and always a reason to call a professional. Don’t try to do the job on your own to avoid injuries.

5. Loose Cables

One of the most dangerous problems with garage doors is loose or snapped cables. They align with the torsion springs on both sides of the door. Once they break, the garage door will slam to the ground.

As a result, you won’t be able to open the door, and the only solution is to call a service technician to replace the cables as soon as possible. Avoid replacing them yourself since there is a real chance to hurt yourself.

Plus, it is complicated to install the cables and achieve that they are parallel to each other and in alignment with the torsion springs. Keep in mind that the door can open and close smoothly only if that job is done precisely.

6. Sensitivity Settings

Before starting to lose nerves because your new, freshly installed garage door doesn’t open, make sure if the problem with the sensitivity adjustment appears. The new doors come with factory settings, and you need to adjust them to your needs.

In case that the sensitivity is too low, the door won’t open. All you need to do is to read the user manuals or instructions on the manufacturer’s website. Look on how to reset the sensitivity of your door and set it to the right level.

7. The Garage Door Tracks

When the garage door doesn’t slide smoothly, and you hear a squeak while moving it, you probably have a problem with the door tracks. In such a case, one of the rollers comes off the tracks and disables the regular door opening.

It is also possible that the track with the door sliders becomes distorted, usually after something heavy hits it. In that case, you need to open the door manually and inspect the tracks on both sides. Check for any bumps, bends, and possible obstacles that have got stuck there. Also, you will need to replace the rollers if one of them misses.

Moreover, it is not a bad idea to lightly stroke a rubber mallet over both tracks to correct existing irregularities. Keep in mind that both sides need to be aligned to be able to open and close the garage door without difficulties.

8. The Disconnect Switch

Your garage door has a disconnect switch. This option allows opening and closing the door manually when power failure. The disconnect switch is usually attached to a rope or a knob, and it can happen that someone inadvertently activates it.

Such a small mistake made in a hurry can make you wrongly think that a problem occurs. In fact, all it takes is to reattach the cord to a motor, and the door will be functional again.

9. Stripped Gear in the Opener

Although you have been using garage doors for years without any problems, you can face an issue with the gear in the opener since it wears out over time. As a result, you won’t be able to open the door even though everything seems to work correctly.

The problem with the stripped gear is that you can’t spot it in the opener itself. The only way you can figure out that something is wrong is the humming sound. It will appear once you use the remote, but the door stays closed. Call for service and have a professional replace the complete garage opener.

10. Stiff Rollers

If your garage door doesn’t open during the winter months, maybe all it takes is to lubricate the rollers in the garage tracks. If they are too stiff, the garage door will get stuck.

Luckily, this problem is fixable without much time and money invested. Go to the local hardware store, purchase a garage door spray, and apply it on tracks. Make sure to sprays both tracks entirely and sides of the garage door.

11. Remote Control Malfunction

If the door in your garage doesn’t respond to the remote, you first need to check if you are out of range. Move the car closer to the garage door and then try to open it.

If it still nothing happens, you should check if there is an issue with the antenna. Sometimes, it stops receiving the signal that the remote sends.

If there is no visible damage to the antenna, you should try to reprogram your device before calling for service.

Remote reprogramming is not complicated in contemporary models. Hold down the learn button for a few seconds. When the light starts blinking, you should hold down the same button again.

However, if you have the model that requires some specific process to reprogram the remote, you should check your manual guide before starting the procedure. That way, you will avoid mistakes and potential repurchase of the remote.

12. The Keypad Is Desynchronized

If your remote control can’t open the garage door, you can try with reserves. However, it may happen that the door doesn’t open because the keypad is out of sync with the remote.

In such a case, you can reset the keypad by pressing the particular buttons. Always check for instructions in the user’s manual on how to re-sync the keypad with the remote. The door will open without any problems as soon as you finish the process.

Summary

From the simplest battery changes to potentially very dangerous breakdowns, there are many reasons why a garage door won’t open. In some situations, you can solve the problem yourself, but for others, it is better to seek professional help. Since you use your garage door every day, it is crucial to fix its opening as soon as possible.