Garage Door Won't Open: Safe Checks and When to Stop
A garage door that won't open is usually a simple remote, power or sensor problem, but it can also be a broken spring, which isn't a do-it-yourself job. This guide covers the common causes, safe checks to run first, what to avoid and when to call a pro. LocalRepairLine is a referral service, not a contractor, and this is general information, not a substitute for an in-person inspection.
Safety first
Never touch the springs, cables or the brackets at the bottom of the door. They're under high tension and can cause serious injury. Don't stand or walk under a door that's partly open, and keep children and pets away. If the door feels very heavy when you lift it by hand, or you heard a loud bang, stop and call a pro.
Why a garage door won't open
- Remote or wall button problems. A dead battery or a lost pairing stops the remote, and a wall button lock can stop signals.
- No power to the opener. The outlet, a GFCI or the breaker may have tripped.
- Safety sensors blocked or misaligned. The small sensors near the floor must see each other, or the door may refuse to close or move.
- The emergency release was pulled. The red cord disconnects the door from the opener.
- A broken spring or cable. This is the most common serious cause, and the door will feel heavy or not lift.
- A door off its track or an obstruction. A bent track or something in the way can jam the door.
Safe checks to run first
- Try the wall button and the remote. If only one works, the problem is the remote or its battery.
- Replace the remote battery and make sure the wall lock button isn't on.
- Check the power. Look at the light on the opener, the outlet and the breaker.
- Check the sensors. Wipe the lenses, remove anything blocking them and make sure the indicator lights are steady.
- Look at the red release cord. If the door is disconnected, follow the manual to reconnect it with the door closed.
- Look for obstructions along the track and under the door. Don't force anything out of the way.
- Open the door by hand only if it feels light. If it's heavy or won't stay up, leave it alone.
What not to do
- Do not adjust or unwind the springs yourself.
- Do not keep pressing the button if the opener strains or hums.
- Do not drive a vehicle through a door that isn't fully open.
- Do not use a ladder to work on a door that's under tension.
- Do not bypass the safety sensors.
When to call a garage door pro
- You heard a bang, or a spring or cable looks broken or loose.
- The door is crooked, off its track or has bent panels.
- The opener hums or runs but the door doesn't move.
- The door won't stay open or reverses at once.
- The opener is old, noisy or failing.
What to tell the pro
- What happens when you press the button: nothing, a hum, a click or a reversal.
- What you checked: battery, power, sensors, release cord.
- Whether the door feels heavy by hand.
- The make of the opener, if you can see it.
Door still stuck?
If the door won't move after the safe checks, describe the problem to an independent local garage door company. A short automated prompt plays first, and then you're connected. LocalRepairLine is a referral service, not a contractor.
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