You just pulled into your garage after a long day of work. It’s dark outside, you’re tired, and you just want to park your car in the garage for the evening and head inside — there’s just one problem. Your garage door won’t close! Believe it or not, this is a very common problem that happens to homeowners across the country every single day.
But if you’re currently dealing with a garage door that won’t close, you probably have a few questions. First and foremost, why won’t your garage door close? What’s the root cause of the problem? Do you need to call professionals or can you fix it yourself? Is it a good idea to try to repair a broken garage door on your own? Finally, where can you turn to get professional help when your garage door won’t close?
In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons your garage door isn’t closing.
Common Reasons Why Your Garage Door Won’t Close
If you’re like most Americans, you’ve got a sectional garage door that you can open and close manually or automatically via sensors. In either case, there are various reasons your garage door may not be working properly. In the sections below, we’ll discuss some of the most common reasons that you may be able to open your garage door, but have difficulty closing it back again:
Sensor Issues
Assuming you use a sensor to remotely open and close your garage door (rather than the old-school pull-string), there’s a good chance that the sensor is the culprit. Sensors don’t last forever, so there’s always the chance that one or more sensors are dead or faulty. When this happens, the sensor won’t react to remote inputs or even motion detection. In some cases, your sensor could be obstructed by objects (like boxes or vehicles), or your sensor could have dirt and debris on it that are preventing it from reacting to your commands.
If it’s an issue of obstruction or debris, you can probably fix it on your own. If your garage door isn’t opening, always make sure that there’s a clear line of sight between your garage door remote and the sensor. Also, make sure that the sensor is clean and free of debris. If you’ve tried these and it’s still not working, you may want to call in a professional.
Dead Remote
Another potential issue is your remote. Just because your sensor isn’t broken doesn’t mean that there’s a signal going between your remote and your sensor. This is most often caused by a dead battery, which is a very easy fix. If your remote has been damaged or is faulty for some reason, you might have to call the manufacturer and have it replaced. Either way, this is one of the few issues that doesn’t require a professional repair company.
Obstructed Tracks
Even garage doors that open manually can have issues, and these issues are often physical or mechanical in nature. If the tracks that run on either side of your garage door are bent, broken, or obstructed by foreign objects (like a bird nest), the door may not open properly. Be sure to do a quick inspection of the tracks to see if there are any possible issues; also look at the rollers to ensure that they’re aligned correctly. If damaged or obstructed tracks are the problem, the severity of the damage may require professionals. Otherwise, you can often clear the tracks or even pop a roller back into place to fix it on your own.
Broken Springs
If the springs on your garage door are broken or damaged, you definitely want to call a professional before you try to do anything. Garage door springs are under a very high degree of tension. If you try to repair the springs on your own, they could suddenly break out and cause serious injuries to you or damage to your garage or vehicle. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) estimates that 20,000 Americans are sent to the hospital every year due to garage door-related injuries, many involving springs. In short, these are various dangerous parts, and you should try to avoid doing any kind of DIY repair on them. A broken or damaged spring almost always requires a professional.
Fix a Garage Door That Won’t Close With Garage Pros
Are you having trouble closing your garage door? Do you need a quality garage door repair company that serves homes in Kansas City? If so, Garage Pros have you covered! We are a family-owned and operated company with decades of experience in garage installation and repair. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment!
