Garage Door Won’t Open? 7 Common Causes and What to Do

Few things derail a morning faster than a garage door that won’t open. The good news: some causes are simple enough to fix yourself in a couple of minutes. Others, like a broken spring or a snapped cable, are a job for a technician. Here’s how to work through the most common reasons a garage door won’t open, starting with the easiest checks.

First: what is the door doing?

What you see and hear when you press the button narrows things down quickly:

• Nothing happens at all (no light, no sound): usually power, the remote, or the wall button.
• The opener light blinks and the door won’t move or goes back up: usually the safety sensors.
• The motor hums or runs but the door doesn’t move: often a broken spring, a disengaged trolley, or a stripped opener gear.
• The door lifts a few inches, then stops or reverses: often a spring, a cable, or the opener’s force settings.
• The door is crooked or jammed: usually a cable or roller problem, or the door is off its track.

7 common reasons a garage door won’t open

1. The opener has no power

Check that the opener is plugged into the ceiling outlet and that the outlet has power. Look for a tripped breaker or a GFCI outlet that needs resetting, often in the garage or a nearby bathroom. If the opener light doesn’t come on when you press the wall button, power is the first suspect.

2. Remote or keypad problems

If the wall button works but the remote doesn’t, replace the remote battery first. Many wall consoles also have a lock or vacation button that blocks remotes; if it’s on, the console light usually blinks. Pressing and holding it for a few seconds turns it off.

3. Blocked or misaligned safety sensors

The two small sensors near the floor on each side of the door must “see” each other. If one is bumped, dirty, or blocked by a box, a broom or even a spider web, the opener will refuse to close, and some models won’t run normally at all. Wipe the lenses, make sure both indicator lights are solid, and gently straighten a sensor that’s been knocked out of line. Sun shining directly into a sensor can also cause problems in the afternoon.

4. The manual release is pulled

If someone pulled the red emergency release cord, the door is disconnected from the opener. The motor will run, but the door won’t move. Re-engaging it is usually simple: pull the cord toward the door, then run the opener and the trolley should click back into place. If you’re not sure how your model works, call us before forcing it.

5. A broken spring

If the motor runs but the door won’t lift, or it rises a few inches and stops, and especially if you heard a loud bang, a spring has probably broken. Stop using the opener and don’t try to lift the door. Read our guide on what to do when a garage door spring breaks, or see spring replacement.

6. A snapped cable or a door off track

Lift cables work with the springs to raise the door evenly. If one snaps or comes off its drum, the door can tilt, jam, or come out of the track. Keep the door closed, keep people and cars clear, and call a technician. See cable repair and off-track repair.

7. The opener itself has failed

If the motor hums or grinds but the trolley never moves, the drive gear may be stripped. That’s common on older chain-drive openers. Circuit boards can also fail after power surges and storms. Sometimes a repair makes sense; on older openers, a new quiet belt-drive or Wi-Fi model is often the better value. See garage door opener repair.

When to stop and call a professional

• You heard a loud bang, or you can see a gap in the spring above the door.
• A cable is loose, frayed, or hanging.
• The door is crooked, off track, or a panel is bent.
• The door feels very heavy when you try to lift it.
• You’ve checked power, the remote, the sensors and the release, and it still won’t open.

Forcing the door or repeatedly running the opener with one of these problems can turn a single repair into several. It can also be dangerous: garage door springs and cables are under high tension.

Need your door open today?

Best Choice Garage Doors is based in Peachtree Corners and repairs garage doors across Metro Atlanta, usually the same day. You get the price before any work starts. We’re available 24 hours Sunday through Thursday and 6 am to 4 pm on Friday, and we’re closed Saturdays. After hours, see emergency garage door repair or call (470) 587-2560.