After years of reliable use, you find one morning that after pressing the remote control button several times, your garage door just won’t close. While having a garage door that won’t close is an inconvenient and time-consuming hassle, it’s one of the most common garage door issues Florida homeowners experience. Being the most frequently used daily entrance and exit to your home, a garage door that won’t close can result from minor issues like obstructions in the path of the door or more severe issues like a broken spring or cable.
Garage doors left open present a significant home security and safety issue and should be addressed as soon as possible. When your garage door won’t close, make sure to note common repair signs and determine whether professional attention is needed.
What to Do When Your Garage Door Won’t Close
When your home’s garage door won’t close, you can’t just leave it open until you find a convenient time to address the issue. In many instances when the door won’t close properly, there’s a simple explanation for the cause of the malfunction. By performing initial troubleshooting steps, you can often quickly determine why the garage door won’t close and end up saving money by avoiding a service call from a professional.
If your garage door won’t close, look at the following action items first:
- Perform a visual inspection: When the garage door won’t close, it’s best to first perform a visual inspection of the garage door parts and components, checking for signs of visible damage.
- Check photo-eye sensors: If there are no obvious signs of damage, look at the photo-eye sensors at the base of the door. Make sure there’s nothing blocking the sensors, that the sensors are properly aligned, and that each unit is free of debris. In many cases, dirt and grime can obscure the sensor lenses, confusing the part into thinking there’s an obstruction in the path of the closing door.
- Press the wall-mounted keypad: When the parts of the garage door appear in good condition and there’s no object in the way of the door, homeowners should check whether the door will close when using the wall-mounted keypad. Press the interior wall station button, using constant pressure, until the door touches the ground. If the garage door is able to close with the wall pad, it likely indicates a problem with the remote control such as a dead battery or a short within the garage door opener’s circuit board. Check the condition of the circuit board by cleaning and realigning the photo-eye sensors. These pieces often get shorted after a power surge or electrical strike.
- Release the emergency cord: If your garage door still won’t close after troubleshooting common issues, ensure the safety and security of your home by manually closing the garage door. Use the manual door release cord located on the garage door opener. This red lever will release the garage door from the opener, allowing you to gently lower the door into the downward position using the handle mounted to the bottom garage door panel.
- Contact a professional repair technician: Once the garage door has been securely lowered and locked, if your garage door has a manual door locking mechanism, call a qualified garage door repair technician to inspect your garage door system and identify the reason why the door won’t close. A professional will be able to determine whether there’s a damaged component, an issue with the garage door opener, if there’s a binding issue, or if your garage door just needs a tuneup.
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Reasons Why Your Garage Door Won’t Close
While there are several ways to identify and fix common garage door issues yourself, there are a few severe instances when you’ll need assistance from a professional.
After looking over your garage door system and finding no simple and safe DIY solutions, your door likely has a broken or damaged component preventing the door from closing properly. Common components that prevent your garage door from closing properly include:
- Broken springs or cables: Torsion or extension springs and cables are some of the most crucial components in your garage door system. These parts are responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the door and allowing the opener to lift and lower it smoothly. Broken springs and cables are some of the most dangerous garage door repair issues that prevent the door from closing. Springs at the end of their lifespan can snap unexpectedly, making a loud banging sound, or will show visible signs of age, like gaps between spring coils. Damaged cables will often unspool from the drum or appear frayed.
- Misaligned garage door tracks: In the garage, there’s a lot of movement and coming and going. With daily activity, it’s normal for the garage door tracks to be accidentally hit and become misaligned. The track provides a clear pathway for the door to travel when it opens and closes. When the track is ajar, it can slow and even prevent movement of the door.
- Improperly programmed limit settings: In some instances, the garage door opener’s limit settings may be improperly programmed. The limit settings signal the machine to know how much movement is required to completely open or close the door. When the garage door is installed, a technician will set this program according to the height and weight of the door. When the setting is programmed too high, the opener will assume the door closed too early once it touches the ground, thinking the ground is an object and not the end of the cycle.
Contact The Doorman, Southeastern Florida’s Best Source for Residential Door Repairs and Maintenance
When your garage door won’t close, no matter the cause, you can rely on the trained local professionals at The Doorman to perform prompt and effective garage door repairs. We happily provide garage door services for homeowners throughout southeastern Florida, including the Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach areas.
Contact us today to learn more about our garage door repair services or call 561.600.9606 to request an appointment.
