A garage door that won’t close is what you’re dealing with. One of the most frequent reasons for a garage door that won’t close is clutter or obstructions that block the sensor.
You might be able to fix it yourself, so wait before calling the repair service. The most typical problems to look for and solutions for when a garage door won’t close are highlighted in this guide.
7 Simple Methods for Fixing a Garage Door That Won’t Close
1. Check the Sensors
If your garage door won’t close all the way, it’s probably an issue with your sensors.
Safety lasers mounted by the tracks near the floor are available on garage door openers. These sensors help to keep everyone safe by detecting when objects like small children, animals, or other people stand in the way of the garage door.
These sensors’ lenses could become dirty, which would lead to them sending the control board of the opener a false signal. Often, wiping them clean with a soft cloth will take care of the issue.
If the sensors themselves are blinking, they might need aligning, as they need to “see” each other clearly. Simply unfasten one of the sensors, reposition it so that the tiny light remains steady, and then secure it.
2. Check the Tracks and Rollers
Check the tracks to make sure there are no obstacles in the way of closing if your sensors are working but the garage door won’t go all the way down.
The same result may result from a crooked track or a broken roller. Make sure there are no signs of damage by looking over both tracks. If you find a damaged section, you can often bend it back to position with clamps or carefully-placed hammer strikes.
Be sure to check the overhead track coming from the garage door opener as well.
This is an excellent time to inspect the rollers and grease them with silicone- or white-lithium-based grease. A garage door opening may believe that something is being hit by the door if several stuck rollers are present.
3. Check the Trolley
The trolley is the name of the component that joins the garage door to the opener. This component is easily recognized because it typically has a rope hanging from it. The garage door opener’s chain-driven door is engaged and disengaged by the rope.
The trolley might be in bypass mode if your garage door can be opened and closed easily by hand. To get the trolley latch out of bypass mode, pull the rope toward the door. The trolley will properly operate once the garage door opener is turned on and latch back onto the chain.
4. Check Your Remote
If you can’t close your garage door with the remote, your batteries are probably dead. However, there’s a chance that a power surge erased the memory of your garage door opener. You might need to re-program your remote if you change the batteries and the problem persists.
Open the light cover on your garage door opener from a ladder or the back flap. You’ll see a large “learn” button. Just keep pressing it until a light starts to flash. A button on your remote should be pressed after the light flashes. The remote should now function.
5. Adjust the Limit Screws
You might need to adjust the limit screws if your garage door stops short of fully closing but does not retract. These screws have contacts that tell the garage door opener how far to open or close, and adjusting them is easy.
From a ladder, open the rear flap or remove the light cover on your garage door opener. You’ll see two plastic adjustment screws labeled “up” and “down.” Using a flat screwdriver, twist the “down” screw in quarter-turn increments, checking how your garage door operates between adjustments. It should be adjusted so that the rubber seal is slightly compressed and the door closes completely. If the door closes and bounces back open, back the “down” adjustment off.
6. Check Your Manual
If your garage door won’t close and there’s a blinking light, your garage door opener is trying to tell you what’s wrong. The troubleshooting section of your manual should be used along with keeping track of how frequently the light blinks.
The trouble code can probably be found online if you don’t have your manual. Simply search for your door opener by its manufacturer and model number, and look for trouble code information.
7. Manually Close Your Garage Door
If you’re unable to fix your door by yourself, you might need a technician. Pulling down on the bypass rope will secure your garage while you wait. The trolley should be able to be disengaged so you can shut your door. If your door doesn’t have built-in locking latches, your tracks will have small holes that you can feed a bolt through that will effectively lock the door.
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Maintenance Tips to Help Prevent Future Garage Door Issues
It doesn’t have to take much time or effort to maintain your garage doors. You should have a maintenance schedule in place if you want them to last as long as possible and not break down at the worst time.
Keeping your garage clean and tidy is the first step; if it is cluttered and dusty, door operation issues can be expected. The garage should not be too close to the door, and you should perform a spring clean every year.
If you notice any odd sounds coming from the garage door mechanisms, such as popping, screeching, rattles, etc., investigate them and find out the cause as soon as possible.
Routine maintenance to carry out on your garage door should include:
- Clean off leaves, dirt, and debris from the tracks to make sure they are free of debris and oil buildup
- Check your garage door’s springs every year for wear and tear
- Test your springs by lifting the door manually, then releasing it
- Keep an eye on your garage door opener battery life; replace it when necessary
- Check for rust on the springs, cables, or pulleys
- Lubricate all hinges, latches, and rollers to prevent squeaking
- Replace any broken or worn-out parts as soon as possible
Conclusion
It’s easy to freak out if you’re experiencing garage door issues. When a garage door won’t close, there may be a small problem or a serious problem that needs to be fixed.
You can identify the potential cause by identifying these typical problems. A garage repair service, however, is always recommended.
FAQs
Why Won’t My Garage Door Close When There’s Nothing in the Way?
Check the tracks to make sure there are no obstructions in the way if your sensors are working but the garage door still won’t close past a certain point. The same outcome may result from a bent track or a damaged roller. Check to see if there are any signs of damage on both tracks.
Why Does My Garage Door Start to Close and Then Go Back Up?
Your garage door has a preset distance it must travel before closing. It assumes something is wrong if it closes before covering that distance, so it reopens to try to limit any harm. Weather variations can cause the parts of your garage door to expand or contract.
Can I Manually Close My Garage Door?
Most automatic garage doors have a manual release that you can use if there is no power to open or close the door. Typically, your door’s track is where this long red rope hangs. The trolley will come off the garage door track when you pull this red rope, allowing you to operate the door manually.