Why Your Garage Door Won’t Open (And When It’s an Emergency)
Suddenly realizing that your garage door is stuck closed is never fun, especially if you need to get your car out to go to work. When a garage door won’t open, it’s most commonly because there’s a mechanical issue, such as a broken spring or worn-out opener. The issue can also arise because of an electrical problem with the opener. In some cases, the problem can even be caused by electrical interference that’s blocking the signal from the remote from reaching the opener. In this article, we’ll examine the steps for troubleshooting a garage door that won’t open and determine when it’s best to call a professional for assistance.
Make Sure That the Opener Has Power
The first thing to check when your garage door won’t open is that the opener is still plugged in and that the power to the garage isn’t out. The vibrations from the door opening and closing can sometimes cause the plug to come slightly loose, resulting in the opener losing power. A power surge can also cause the circuit breaker for the garage to trip. In this case, the opener should work again after you reset the breaker.
If the opener has power, you should use the remote to try and open the door while standing in the garage to see if anything happens. If the garage door opener clicks but doesn’t open, you want to make sure that someone didn’t pull the emergency release cord and disconnect the door from the opener trolley. If the door is still connected, it’s likely that the opener is worn out and needs to be replaced. In this case, you should be able to disconnect the door and open and close it manually as needed while waiting to get a new opener installed.
Visually Inspect the Track and Rails
The next step is to check that the tracks are properly aligned and not bent and that all of the rollers remain on the tracks. If the tracks are bent or out of alignment, it can result in the door only opening slightly before it gets stuck and won’t move any further. The same can happen if any of the rollers have come off the track. This type of issue is a concern since it has the potential to result in the opener motor overheating and getting damaged. If a roller has come off the track, this is best handled by a professional to prevent damage or injury. Issues with the tracks are more difficult to fix, and DIY just won’t cut it.
Try Opening the Door With the Keypad
The next step is to try opening the door with the keypad, as the problem may be the remote and not the opener or garage door itself. If you can open the door with the keypad, it’s a sure sign that the issue lies with the remote. It could just be that the batteries in the remote are dead. LED lights can produce significant interference and block the signal from the remote. If you find that your garage door won’t open at night but works just fine during the day, an LED light in the garage or your yard is likely the culprit. In this case, turning off the light or replacing it with a non-interfering bulb should fix the problem.
Try Manually Opening the Door
The last step is to pull the red handle on the release cord to disconnect the door from the opener and then try to open the door manually. The springs support most of the weight of the door, so you should be able to open it easily. If you open the door halfway and let go of it, the springs should also hold it open. If the door is overly heavy and won’t stay open on its own, it’s a sure sign of a broken spring.
A broken spring is an issue that requires an emergency emergency garage door repair, as you won’t be able to use the door at all until you get the spring replaced. It’s also a situation where you should definitely enlist the help of an experienced professional. Garage door springs are under an extreme amount of tension and can cause severe injury or death if you try to work on them without knowing exactly what you’re doing and taking the appropriate safety precautions.
If you’re searching for reliable garage door services in Palm Beach, Broward, Treasure Coast or any of the surrounding communities, you can count on the experts at At Your Service Garage Doors, Windows & Doors. We have over 15 years of experience serving South Florida homes and businesses and can reliably handle all of your repair and installation needs.
If your garage door won’t open or has any other issues, give us a call for prompt, dependable service.
