What to Do When Your Garage Door Won’t Close

Garage doors are designed to do one of two things—open or close. So, it can be quite frustrating when your garage door seemingly refuses to close, whether it won’t respond to your commands or reverses midway. There are many reasons this can happen. Sometimes the solution is simple, such as replacing a battery or cleaning a sensor. Here are a few troubleshooting tips to help you fix the problem or determine whether professional repair is necessary. While the causes can be varied, here’s what to do when your garage door won’t close.

Look for Garage Door Safety Sensor Issues

Modern garage doors have two sensors near the bottom. Located six inches above the ground, these devices are located on either side and detect when something, whether a child, ball, container, or pet, is in the way. The door will not close if the signal is broken. Sometimes, it may not be an object causing this, but a misalignment of the sensors or dirt on the lens or transmitter.

Therefore, you can fix the problem by wiping the sensors with a clean, soft, cloth. Even dust or a spider web can block the signal. If a sensor isn’t aligned properly, loosen it and adjust its position until the blinking light becomes steady.

Adjust the Limit Setting

If the sensors seem okay, check the limit settings, or travel limits, which tell the opener how far the door must travel before fully closing. This is a safety feature to ensure it doesn’t crush anything. Too high a setting fools the door into thinking the floor is an obstruction, causing it to open. Fortunately, the issue can be easily fixed with a screwdriver, the limit settings knob on the garage door motor, or other means indicated by the instruction manual. Just be careful not to over-adjust the limit, as this could cause the door to slam the ground or move too quickly.

Check the Garage Door Opener’s Remote Battery

A common reason the garage door won’t open or even respond to the remote is a dead battery. Replacing the batteries is an obvious first step. If this doesn’t work, the remote might need to be reprogrammed. To do this, press the “learn” button on the opener, using a ladder to access the unit. When the light flashes, press a button on the remote; it should then work normally again. The garage door transmitter battery may need to be replaced as well.

Check Track Alignment

If the garage door tracks are misaligned, the door won’t be able to run normally. It can get stuck in position or reverse automatically. Gaps between the rails and rollers, or bent rails, should be fixed by a professional. Also check for damage such as warped tracks or even obstacles blocking them. Garage door tracks wear over time and can also be damaged by the weight of the garage door.

Look for Broken Springs or Cables

Tension springs and cables help your garage door move slowly and evenly. They are a major safety feature. If a spring fails or a cable snaps, it can be an extremely dangerous situation. The door can break loose and hit the ground hard, or broken pieces can be flung at high speeds and hurt someone. So, if a cable looks frayed or a spring is rusted or has a gap, call a repair technician right away.

Refer to the Manual

The garage door is indicating a problem if it won’t close and there’s a blinking light. The color or number of times it blinks is telling you something. Check the manual’s troubleshooting guide or find trouble codes for your door model online, for reference to what the problem may be.

Get to the Root of the Problem

Once your garage door won’t close, take a visual look at what may be wrong. Then you can decide to fix a simple issue on your own. When you’ve addressed the problem, place a box or board underneath and close the door. If you can’t resolve the situation, call a professional as moving forward on your own can be dangerous. A garage door repair professional at Mesa Garage Doors is trained and equipped to correct any problem quickly. To get started, book service online or call 800-893-1107 today, or contact us for a free no obligation estimate.