If Your Garage Door Is Stuck or Broken, We Can Fix It

Garage Door Won’t Open or Close?
Maybe it’s stuck a foot off the ground, moving on its own, or hanging a little off-kilter in its track.
Sometimes you can fix a broken or stuck garage door on your own. However, some problems do require professional repair to ensure the safety of your family and your property.
Here are some of the most common garage door problems, causes, and solutions. When in doubt, always call an expert.
Common Garage Door Problems
Garage Door Stuck
If your garage door is stuck, it could be an issue with:
- Lack of lubrication
- Worn or damaged springs
- Garage door coming off its track
- Damaged frame, tracks, or rollers
You can try lubricating the door’s components with silicone-based lubricant. If the door is still stuck, do not attempt to open or close it manually. Call a professional for diagnosis & repair.
Garage Door Loud or Making Strange Noises
Garage doors often make strange noises when they need to be lubricated, or if certain components are damaged. First, try lubricating each of these components:
- Hinges
- Rollers
- Springs or center bearings
- Bearing plates
- Top of the rail where the chain sits
Thoroughly lubricate each part with a silicone-based lubricant. Wipe away any excess lubricant. Do not lubricate tracks or nylon rollers.
If your garage door is still noisy, you may have an issue with damaged springs or a worn garage door opener chain. Do not try to repair or replace springs on your own – this poses a major safety hazard. Call a professional for diagnosis and repair.
Garage Door Opener Lights Blinking
If your garage door opener lights are blinking or flashing, there’s likely an issue with an electronic component or wiring. Your garage door opener is programmed with self-diagnostic capabilities which enable you to count the number of flashes and help identify your potential problem.
Each brand of garage door opener has its own diagnostic codes. You can find your opener’s diagnostic chart in the product manual.
If the problem is simple sensor misalignment, you can adjust the sensors yourself. If there’s a more complex electrical or wiring issue, call a professional to ensure your safety and prevent further damage to your system.
Broken Garage Door Springs
Garage door springs typically break due to normal wear and tear on your garage door. When a spring breaks, it sounds like a loud bang in your garage. Once it’s broken, your door may not open or have difficulty opening.
If you know a spring is broken, do not try to open the garage door. Immediately call a professional to replace the broken spring.
Garage Door Won't Open
If your garage door won’t open, there may be an issue with:
- Your garage door opener
- Remote, wall button, or keypad
- Springs or cables
- Frame, tracks, or rollers
- Or other components
First, try replacing the batteries in your remote. If it still won’t open, don’t attempt to open it manually as this can pose a safety hazard. Call a professional for diagnosis and repair.
Garage Door Won't Open All the Way
If your garage door won’t open all the way, it could be incorrect settings for your garage door opener limit switch.
Garage Door Won't Close
If your garage door won’t close, there may be an issue with:
- Your garage door opener or remote
- Safety sensors
- The frame, tracks, or rollers
Don’t try to manually close your garage door – this can pose a safety hazard. Try replacing the batteries in your remote first. Then, try clearing the area around the sensors. If it’s still not responding and won’t close with the wall button or keypad, call a professional.
Garage Door Starts to Close and then Reopens
If your garage door starts to close and then reopens, it may be an issue with your sensors. Check the area around the door and sensors for something that may be keeping your door from closing.
This kind of malfunction could also be an issue with your garage door opener. If everything looks clear and your door is still acting funny, call a garage door company for an expert diagnosis.
Garage Door Won't Close All the Way
If your garage door won’t close all the way, it could be something blocking the door or incorrect settings for your garage door opener limit switch.
Try clearing the area under and around the door first. Then, try resetting the limit switches.
- While the door is closed, measure the distance between the bottom of the garage door to the ground.
- Locate the limit switch adjustment screw on the side of your opener.
- Turn the screws with a flathead screwdriver counterclockwise to lower the door. Every full turn with the screwdriver will lower your door 3 inches.
- Open & close the garage door to make sure the distance is correct.
If your garage door still isn’t closing all the way, call a professional for diagnosis and repair.
Garage Door Won't Stay Closed
If your garage door won’t stay closed, your garage door opener limit switch may be programmed incorrectly. If the limit is set too low, the door will hit the ground and bounce back up. Try resetting the limit switches.
- Locate the limit switch adjustment screw on the side of your opener.
- Turn the screws with a flathead screwdriver clockwise to raise the door. Every full turn with the screwdriver will raise your door 3 inches.
- Adjust the screws until the door closes fully without impact.
- Open & close the garage door to make sure the distance is correct.
If your garage door still won’t stay closed, call a professional for diagnosis and repair.
Garage Door Opens or Closes on Its Own
If your garage door is opening or closing on its own, there may be an issue with your garage door opener, remote, or sensors.
- Check your remote, keypad, and wall buttons to see if any of the buttons are stuck.
- Clear the area around the door and clean the safety sensors to make sure debris isn’t making them malfunction.
If your garage door keeps moving on its own, it may be an electronic or wiring issue. Don’t try to fix these issues on your own – call a professional for safe diagnosis and repair.
Garage Door Came Off Its Track
If your garage door looks like it came off its track, you may have an issue with the tracks or rollers. Do NOT try to open or close your garage door while it’s off the track.
The fix may be as easy as lubricating the rollers and getting the door back on track, but you may also need to replace the rollers or other components. Call a professional garage door company for an expert diagnosis.
Garage Door Sagging or Leaning
Sometimes, an off-balance garage door just needs a simple spring adjustment. Other times, a garage door will sag or lean when its cables are damaged. If you suspect your cables are damaged, do not try to open your door.
Due to how heavy garage doors are, we do not recommend adjusting springs or cables on your own. If something goes wrong, the door may crash down and damage itself and anything under it.
Call a professional so they can safely do an expert diagnosis, make adjustments, and replace any damaged or worn components.
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