12 Reasons a Garage Door Won’t Close
When your garage door doesn’t close, your home will be vulnerable to intruders, water entry, and other threats. But not every reason for the issue requires calling a professional. Some causes are easy to fix; others are not. Here are 12 reasons a garage door won’t close to help you decide what to do.
1. Something Is In the Way
An obstruction can block the path of the photo-eye sensor, preventing the door from closing. This is a built-in safety feature to avoid damage or injury. It’s included in most garage doors built in the early 1990s and later. If the door doesn’t close, look around for furniture, a toy, debris, or anything else in the way.
2. A Sensor Is Misaligned or Malfunctioning
The photo-eye consists of a transmitter and receiver that face each other from opposite sides. If the beam is blocked by dirt or a sensor is out of alignment, the signal won’t be received, and the door will stop midway or fully reverse and open again. It’s also possible a sensor has been damaged by moisture or its mounting is broken.
3. The Operator Isn’t Powered
If the power is disconnected from the garage door operator, the garage door won’t close or open. The operator may have been unplugged accidentally. In this case, plugging it back in should get the door to close. However, a tripped circuit breaker, overloaded circuit, or faulty outlet can also prevent the operator from working.
4. The Keypad Isn’t Synced
Sometimes, the garage door opener remote needs to be reset. But when the remote works fine and you have trouble with the keypad, resetting the code can sync it with the opener system. Check the user’s manual or a troubleshooting guide for steps on addressing the issue.
5. A Disconnected Motor
A disconnected motor is another reason a garage door won’t close. The motor has a disconnect switch that lets you open the door without the opener (if this is activated, the door won’t close but the motor may still run). This feature is useful during power outages. Or, the cord can get caught and become unplugged from the socket. Check the switch or the cord before calling a professional.
6. An Extension or Torsion Spring Is Damaged
A torsion spring helps the door open and close smoothly and runs horizontally between the two cable drums. The extension springs are mounted on the sides of the track and extend and contract as the door moves. Both of these store tension when the door is closed and release it as the door opens. A broken spring can prevent the garage door from closing and must be replaced by a trained technician.
7. A Garage Door Cable Broke
If you have torsion springs, the cables connect to the drum and rotate a winding cone to lift the door. Extension springs have cables inside them to prevent damage if a spring fails. Over time, these cables can wear out and break due to age, rust, impacts, or poor installation; the door won’t close or may fall to the ground. The door should close again after the cable is replaced.
8. The Garage Door Track Is Bent
A damaged track can prevent the door from moving. If it’s bent or misaligned, it will put pressure on the garage door and stop it from closing. Pressure and wear and tear contribute to the problem, and when one track is not aligned, it puts pressure on the other and can cause additional damage. Contact a specialist since handling a garage door track can be dangerous.
9. The Remote Transmitter Needs a Battery
Here’s a simple reason a garage door won’t close that you can fix yourself. If the transmitter’s batteries have expired, it won’t send a signal to the garage door opener. To determine if this is the issue, press the button on the wall receiver. If the door works, replacing the dead battery should resolve the issue. Depending on the remote model, slide off the back cover or unscrew the locking component to access the batteries.
10. The Signal Is Blocked
Even if the battery is good, a blocked signal or remote that’s out of range can prevent the garage door from closing. Check whether the opener’s remote antenna is obstructed and clean it off if necessary. Dirt, objects, or tree branches can block the signal. Trim any interfering branches away but call for help if the antenna appears damaged.
11. Lock Mode Is Turned On
Check whether you accidentally locked the garage door. If so, the motor may run momentarily and shut off. Disengage the lock to get your garage door to close. If manual locks are installed, turn the handle until the horizontal bar is disengaged (you’ll hear an audible snap). The door should now operate normally.
12. The Opener Has a Stripped Gear
The garage door opener can be strained by daily use. A stripped gear will prevent the opener from functioning so, if the door is open, closing it won’t be possible. Unfortunately, the only solution is to replace the garage door opener. Call for help if the door won’t move but the opener makes a humming sound.
Contact Us for Garage Door Repairs
Based in Anaheim, CA, Mesa Garage Doors has installation and service teams across the region to address customers’ needs. Our technicians are factory trained and insured and provide any type of repair on most garage door makes and models. They promptly address common issues and fix them quickly. Whatever the reason your garage door won’t close, call us 24/7 at (714) 844-5741 to schedule your free repair estimate.
