Construction Tips For Beginners

Troubleshooting Why Your Garage Door Won't Open

9 March 2016 by Dawn Henry

You're in the driveway with a car full of groceries and the garage door doesn't respond to your remote control. You can do a quick check to troubleshoot the garage door problem and may be able to correct it yourself. Other issues require the help of a garage door repair company. Here are the steps to find out why the garage door isn't opening for you. 

Remote Control Problems

1. Take the remote control with you into the garage.
2. Press the button on the wall that opens and closes the garage door.
3. If the door opens, change the batteries in the remote and try it again.
4. If the remote still doesn't work, it's time for a replacement remote.

Garage Door Spring Problems

1. Locate the large springs running parallel to and a few inches below the ceiling.
2. If you see a broken garage door spring, call the repair company for service. The door will not open if one of the springs is broken or has become disconnected at one end.

Garage Door Roller and Track Problems

1. Locate the rollers attached to both edges of the garage door. These rollers are set in a metal track that they follow up to and under the ceiling.
2. Look for one or more rollers that may have jumped out of the track. Push on the roller to try to move it back into the track.
3. Look for bends or twists in the metal track. This can happen if the track was bumped by your car going in or out of the garage. A bent track may not allow the door to raise. Call a service company to replace the bent track.

Safety Sensor Problems

1. Locate the infrared motion sensors near the floor on both sides of the garage door.
2. Make sure the devices are pointed at each other.
3. Clear away anything that may have fallen in front of a sensor to block the infrared beam. This prevents the door from raising.

Garage Door Opener Problems

1. If everything checks out on the garage door but it still won't open, the problem may be the opener motor.
2. Locate the emergency disconnect handle for the garage door. It will be hanging down from the central track on which the belt or chain runs when the door opens and closes.
3. Pull the handle straight down until you feel it click, indicating the door has been disconnected from the motor.
4. Now attempt to manually lift the garage door.
5. If you are successful at opening the door manually, the motor is bad and will need to be replaced by a garage door repair company (such as http://www.planooverhead.com). 

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