11 Most Common Reasons Why Your Garage Door Won't Open

Why Your Automatic Garage Door Won't Open (or Shut)

1. The photo eye is blocked.
2. Its power source is disrupted.
3. The torsion springs are broken.
4. Remote control malfunction.
5. Snapped or loose cables.
6. Sensitivity needs adjustment.
7. The limit setting is off.
8. The door has dislodged from its track.
9. Something is blocking the door.
10. "Disconnect" has been switched.
11. The door is locked.

Read on for information, video tutorials, and troubleshooting tips for these issues. You'll also find tips for opening the door manually while you're trying to figure out how to fix the problem!

#1 Your Photo Eye is Blocked

Most garage doors from the past 15-20 years have a photo eye which detects if a person or object is blocking the door from lowering all the way. The photo eye will be about 4-6 inches off of the ground for most doors, with an eye that is about the size of a pea. It shoots a laser across the length of the garage that, if interrupted, will cut off the signal used to lower and raise the door.

Check to see if the cord attached to the eye is cut or damaged; occasionally, a rainstorm or leak can damage the photo eye.

Dirt and dust can clog the eye and block the laser beam, so a thorough cleaning with a tissue can sometimes solve this issue.

Plug it in!

#2 Your Operator's Power Source Is Disrupted

Sometimes, people unplug their power source and then wonder why their garage door opener fails to work. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but it does happen. Make sure that your garage door opener is plugged into a working outlet. Outlets sometimes go out without warning, so you can check to see if the outlet is working by plugging another working electronic device into it. Also, check your circuit breaker, fuse, or GFCI.

Broken Garage Door Torsion Spring

#3 Your Garage Door Torsion Springs Are Broken

SNAP... bang... boom. That is the sound of a garage door torsion spring breaking. It can be a very loud noise that sounds like a firecracker or gunshot. Springs are rated for a certain number of cycles and are the first thing that will break in your garage door assembly. Broken springs are the #1 source of customer calls for garage door repair companies. If you have a broken spring, you should NEVER try to open the door, as it can be very dangerous. This repair should be left to a professional or someone with the right tools and skills.

#4 Your Cables Have Snapped or Popped Off

Just like on a bike sprocket, your cables can sometimes become disengaged. Oftentimes, when a torsion spring breaks, the garage door cable will snap as a result. Sometimes, the cable will cause damage to a vehicle or wall, and if a person happens to be in the way of the cable it can cause serious harm. If you cables have snapped, you should call a professional to help you. See the video above.

#5 Your Sensitivity Is Out of Adjustment

This can happen to a newly installed garage door or an older one: if the sensitivity is set too low or high, the door will not open. Read the manufacturer's directions to reset the sensitivity. You can adjust the close force and limit switch to the correct levels and you should be good to go!

How to Program Your Garage Door Remote

#6 Your Remote Control Is Malfunctioning

When your garage door won't open with the remote, there are few things that can cause this problem:

1. You might be out of range.
2. The antenna on the motor could be damaged or blocked from the signal; make sure it is hanging down from the motor.
3. If the door opens with the wall switch, a simple battery change in the remote should do the trick
4. If all these fail, try reprogramming the remote.

#7 The Limit Setting Needs Adjustment

If the door closes but then immediately pops open again, you'll need to check the limit settings, which help the mechanism determine how far to move the door in order to close it properly. If the settings are off, the door will hit the ground before the opener believes it should. It will assume that it has hit an obstacle and will automatically backtrack to avoid damage. Check the owner's manual or the buttons on the motor to adjust the limit settings. It may take some trial and error to get the setting just right.

1. Get a ladder and find the limit switch adjustment knob. Some models are labeled “up” and “down.” Consult your owner's manual for help.
2. If your door isn't closing, adjust it down. If it won't go up, adjust it up. A full turn of the screw equals about two inches of door movement on most models.
3. It's smart to make very small adjustments so you don't overdo it and end up slamming the door open or shut. Keep testing it to see if it works.

#8 The Door Is Off Its Track

Of course, if the door is off track, it won't slide properly.

• Make sure the door is rolling smoothly along its metal track.
• Check the track for bends, bumps, gaps, or obstacles.
• Listen to and watch the door's progress: Do you hear any squeaks or areas of friction? Does the door seem to slow down or get stuck along the way? If so, you'll know that section of track is misaligned.

To fix this problem, loosen the screws that hold the track to its frame, gently tap the track back into the proper position, then retighten the screws. A level and a rubber mallet might help.

#9 There's an Unseen Obstacle

In order to prevent injury, garage doors automatically reverse if they come into contact with an obstacle. When the door closes halfway but then reverses for no apparent reason, this may be a sign that there is something preventing it from closing, something that you can't see. Check the tracks for stuff like dirt, rocks, bits of trash, or other debris. Give the tracks a wipe-down to dislodge anything that might be getting in the way.

#10 "Disconnect" Has Been Switched

Every garage door opener comes with a disconnect switch, cord, or knob that allows you to work the door manually in case of a power outage. Check to make sure that you haven't accidentally disconnected the motor.

#11 It's Locked!

This one falls squarely into the category of user error. If the motor is running but the door doesn't budge, it's time to ask yourself if it might be locked. Check to see if there are any metal parts that have slid down to bar access. If there are, locate the locking knob or handle and use it to disengage the lock.

source: https://dengarden.com/garage/5-Most-Common-Reasons-Why-Your-Garage-Door-Wont-Open-in-Phoenix-AZ

Does Your Garage Door Stand Up to the Cold?

(Overhead Door™ garage door Impression Collection | R-value 7.6)

During the cooler months, homeowners aim to keep the cold air out and the warm air in, including their garages. Insulated walls and space heaters can work well, but if your garage door is missing insulation, then the warm air will leak outside. This can amount to a huge waste of money and energy.

Take a look at some of the benefits of owning an insulated garage door, along with other best practices to maintain your garage door this winter.

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(Overhead Door™ garage door Thermacore® Model 198)

Save Energy 
Your garage door is ultimately the barrier between your home and the winter weather outside. Studies have shown that replacing an uninsulated garage door with an insulated one can reduce heat loss through the garage by more than 70 percent, especially if the walls of your garage are insulated. Insulated garage doors will block cold air from entering your garage and keep the warm air inside using polyurethane insulation and sealed air gaps.

Protect Your Tools
Freezing garage temperatures can damage your vehicles and anything else you might be storing inside. Tools or appliances with water in them such as a power washer can freeze and crack, ruining the equipment. The same is true of fuel gels. These can “gel up” inside the engine of your lawn mower and destroy a very expensive piece of machinery.

Extend Your Car Battery Life
A car battery is most reliable between 30 and 90 degrees, so an insulated garage door could be the difference between a working or a dead battery.

 
(Overhead Door™ garage door Thermacore® Model 199)

Silent and Durable
Today’s insulated garage doors are often made from steel, like Overhead Door™ Thermacore® garage doors. These doors feature sandwich construction of steel-polyurethane-steel. The higher the R-value of the insulation, the better it will keep your garage’s air in. For example, the Overhead Door Thermacore® garage door provides an R-value of 12.76 for enhanced thermal efficiency. The added insulation also makes it less likely that it will be dented or damaged by everyday life.

As well as adding durability, the insulation in the door also dampens most of the vibration of your garage door and reduces street noise. The reduction in vibration comes in handy if you have living spaces above or next to the garage door, and do not want to be disturbed every time it opens and closes.

Have Your Door Inspected by a Professional
Winter is a great time to have your garage door inspected by a professional. The garage door is often the primary entry point of the home and if your garage door malfunctions, you could be locked out in the cold. A professional inspector will check the door’s springs, the weather stripping and lubricate all the moving parts to keep them running smoothly. This is also a good time to replace the garage door remote and keypad batteries.

source: https://www.overheaddoor.com/blog/Pages/benefits-of-insulated-garage-door.aspx

Community told they must keep their garage doors open — or face a $200 fine

Jason is nervous.

The 9-year-old from the Auburn Greens community in Auburn, California, told Fox40 that he worries someone might steal some of his favorite possessions.

His anxiety stems from a new rule created by his community’s homeowners association that mandates residents to keep their garage doors open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays — or face a $200 fine.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea because they are going to steal my bike,” he told Fox 40. “I’ve got an electric scooter, I've got an electric wheelchair, I’ve got all kinds of stuff. So, I just don’t think it’s very good to have it open.”

The homeowners association plastered the new rule on the doors of residents, warning that those who do not keep their garage doors open face “an immediate hearing notice and (will be) subjected to a $200 fine,” KCRA reported.

Some in the community were not happy with the rule, expressing concern that it will leave them easy targets for would-be thieves.

"If we have to have this open from 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, anybody can help themselves and steal you blind,” Fred Waidtlow told KCRA. “And they do it in this Auburn Greens complex.”

Shally Ia, another resident of the Auburn Greens community, said “fine, let me give you the $200 fine right now.”

Neil Nakahodo & Kris Knowles Kansas City Star

“Give me a month so I can get my stuff out, and I might as well clear everything out,” she told Fox40, “and leave the garage door open permanently because there is no point of having a garage door then.”

Others took to the community’s Facebook page to leave their own thoughts on the controversial rule.

“Are you kidding me? What geniuses made this rule?” wrote one commenter. “Making residents leave their garage doors open and put their property in almost certain jeopardy is one of the most careless decisions I've ever heard of. Please reconsider.”

The rule, which went into effect on Jan. 1, was put into place after someone in the community let people live in their garage, a board member told KCRA. But there’s some good news for those opposed to the policy — John Sprankling, a professor at the McGeorge School of Law, predicted that a judge could overturn the policy if they find it threatens the safety of residents.

“I just felt it was time to acknowledge I'm a Christian,” he said.

And in Rosenberg, Texas, a homeowners association told a veteran that he must take down his Marine Corps and U.S. flags down. The reason: he didn’t get approval for the 20-foot flagpoles that he used to fly the flags, KPRC reported.

source: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article193685849.html