Dealing with a garage door that won’t close can be a source of significant frustration, particularly for those who rely on their garage as a secure storage area for valuable belongings.
Instead of worrying about the security of your garage’s contents while waiting for professional help, there are several troubleshooting steps you can undertake to address the garage door not closing issue yourself.
Here are six common solutions to rectify a garage door that isn’t closing correctly:
1. Give the sensors a check
Oftentimes, the cause of a garage door not closing all the way is a problem with the sensors, which are essentially safety lasers positioned near the floor by the door’s tracks.
Start by looking for any obstructions or clutter that may be getting in the way of these sensors. Not to mention, the lenses of these sensors can easily become dirty, leading them to send false signals to the control board of the opener. So in many cases, simply wiping the sensor lenses clean of any dirt or debris using a soft cloth will resolve the issue.
However, if your garage door continues to not close all the way, double-check that the sensors are properly aligned with one another. If not, try giving them a gentle bend to restore an unhindered connection.
Alternatively, sensors that blink are an indication that they need aligning. In this case, loosen one of the sensors and adjust it until the small light steadies itself, followed by tightening the sensor in place to correct this problem.
2. Assess the tracks and rollers
If all is seemingly well with the sensors yet the garage door still won’t shut completely, give the tracks and rollers a look to ensure that there aren’t any obstructions preventing movement there, as well.
Check the tracks for any bends and rollers for any indications of damage or poor maintenance. If there are any bent areas discovered on the tracks, it can often be resolved by simply bending the track back into its normal position using clamps or hammer strikes placed with precision. Ensure that you check the overhead track for damage, as well.
When it comes to rollers that are stuck or improperly functioning, cleaning the rollers using a toothbrush and then greasing them using a non-silicon-based product such as motor oil will often do the trick. (If your garage door contains nylon rollers, limit lubrication to the bearings only).
Following this, you’ll want to also clean the tracks using a cloth and brake oil to eliminate any buildup that may be interfering with a smooth operation.
3. Readjust the limit screws
If your garage door won’t close completely but will come to a halt without retracting, the issue may be with the limit screws. These screws contain contacts that signal to the garage door opener just how far to open or close. Luckily, readjusting these screws is an easy task.
To do this, use a step ladder to access and open the rear flap or remove the light cover from the garage door opener. You should notice two separate plastic adjustment screws labelled “up” and “down”. Take a flat screwdriver and use it to twist the “down” screw in quarter-turn increments, while observing the response of the garage door in between adjustments.
Continue with the adjustment until the door closes completely and lightly compress the rubber seal. If the door closes followed by bouncing back open, however, you’ll want to back the “down” adjustment off.
4. Check the trolley
The purpose of the trolley is to connect the garage door to the opener by pulling the opener arm to lift the door and pushing the arm to close it. This component can easily be spotted as it will generally contain a rope hanging from it. This rope both engages and disengages the garage door from the chain drive by the opener.
If your garage door is moving freely with manual control, then the trolley may be in bypass mode. In this case, you can revoke the trolley from bypass mode by pulling the rope toward the door. Upon successful activation of the garage door opener, the trolley should then latch back onto the chain and begin working normally.
5. Check the remote
If your garage door isn’t closing in response to your remote, then it’s safe to assume the batteries might be dead. However, there’s also a possibility that a power surge may have erased the memory from your garage door opener.
First, try replacing your remote’s batteries. If the problem persists after that, it may be necessary to reprogram your remote. To do this, press down on the “LEARN” button on your garage door opener until a light flashes on. This light will glow for 30 seconds.
Within these 30 seconds, press and hold down the button on your hand-held remote, followed by releasing the button as soon as the lights blink on the overhead opener unit, or until you hear two clicks if no light bulbs are installed. This should resolve any issues with your remote if batteries are not the source of the problem.
6. Refer to your garage door’s manual
If your garage door still isn’t shutting completely and you notice a blinking light present, this is the opener’s way of indicating the source of the problem. Simply count the number of light blinks and refer to your manual for decoding.
If you don’t have your manual on hand or cannot locate it, then you’ll likely be able to find the source of the problem on the internet by searching the trouble code in addition to your garage door opener’s manufacturer and model number.
When You Shouldn’t Attempt to Fix It Yourself
If none of the above solves the issue, there are a few more things that might’ve gone wrong with your garage door. However, it’s essential that you not try and fix these yourself, as it could be very dangerous and make the issue worse or even severely injure you.
Check Your Garage Door Torsion Spring(s)
The torsion spring is an essential mechanism that allows your garage door and open and close. If you stand inside your garage and look at your garage door, you should see a long spring along the top.
Take a look at the spring— but don’t touch it—and see if you notice that it looks stretched out instead of tightly coiled or if there are any visible breaks. If there are, it’s time to call in the PROFIX professional.
Due to the tension in the spring, it’s not safe to attempt to repair it on your own.
Check Your Garage Door Cables
The cables are another vital component for ensuring your door is opening and closing properly.
Depending on the mechanics of your door, you’ll either have lift cables or retaining cables. A garage door with torsion springs will have cables attached to the bottom corners, going up to the spring above the door.
For a garage with extension springs, you’ll have retaining cables, which are found inside the springs running vertically on either side of the garage door.
For either type of cable, it’s once again important that you not touch cables you suspect may be broken and call a Profix technician to handle the repairs.
Take a look at the cables and inspect them to see if they are in any way rusted or frayed. If they are, you’ll want to call Profix as soon as possible, as frayed or broken cables are one of the most common causes of garage door injuries.
Still no luck? Get in Touch With a Profix Technician
If you’ve tried all of the aforementioned methods to no avail, then you should reach out to a certified PROFIX Technician who will be able to successfully resolve your off-track garage door issue in no time.
Moreover, it’s wise to contact Profix Garage Door Repair, especially if these problems have frequently occurred – even if you’ve been temporarily successful in fixing your garage door.
To learn more about how our Profix Technicians can get your garage door operating smoothly again, visit here or call our 24/7 Emergency Garage Door Repair hotline at 647-724-4477 for prompt service.