Chances are, if your garage door does not open, it may be as simple as diagnosing the problem. Once we know that, we can fix it. Taking a few minutes to troubleshoot what’s wrong can not only save you money, but also time to get your garage door back in working order.
There’s a handful of reasons why your garage door won’t open. It could be something simple you can fix on your own or a bit more complex that requires an experienced service technician. Let’s talk about five of the most common culprits.
1. BATTERIES
This is the first place that I recommend check if your garage door won’t open. It is hands down the easily overlooked items. Be sure to check the batteries among multiple transmitters, if you have multiple. Fortunately, this is a simple and inexpensive fix! Most garage door openers use a 3-volt lithium coin-cell or single 9-volt battery. I like to recommend your garage door remote batteries are changed once a year along with your smoke detector batteries to keep them fresh and the signal strong.
Tip: if you’re unsure which type of lithium battery you need, look at the old one – the type is engraved on the front (positive) side.
2. TRACK IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT
This can turn into a serious issue if not handled properly. In order for your door to move, proper alignment on the the metal track is a must. The weight of the door and repeated use while out-of-alignment can compound this issue over time. This could result in difficult and dangerous operation. If that is the case, its best to call for help. Broken cables are common if your track is out of alignment, and one of the main reasons for a crooked door. Some indicators of a broken cable include:
– Cable is freyed or broken
– Slack in cable
– Door is crooked
– Bottom loop is rusted
3. SPRINGS ARE BROKEN
If there is a broken spring on your garage door, never try to open it. When it comes to repairs, this is the number one issue our service team receives calls about. Once a spring reaches its lifecycle, it will break. The incorrect tension this creates can cause more stress and/or damage to your garage door. To ensure the springs are being repaired properly, I recommend trusting a skilled service technician.
4. GEAR KIT IS STRIPPED/BROKEN
A gear becomes stripped as a result of the garage door being off balance. If the garage door makes a humming or grinding noise but doesn’t open, there may be one or more stripped gears. Garage doors are heavy and if there is too much strain being placed on the opener it will prohibit the garage door from opening. Shredded nylon gears are a common problem that I deal with. Replacing the gear kit will do the trick for this repair.
So there you have it. Five frustrating reasons why your garage door won’t open and some tips on why that might be. If you’re experiencing any of these issues and your garage door still won’t open, don’t hesitate to give us a call. It’s what we are here for.