9 Ways To Fix A Garage Door That Won’t Close (Tried And Tested!)

The process of continuously having to lift the garage door open puts strain on your back and adds an unwanted step to your daily routine. When you arrive home from a long, exhausting day at work, the last thing you want to do is come out of your car to open your garage door. Hence, a garage door opener comes to our rescue as having an opener means not having to lift open your heavy garage door every time you need access to it.

However, since your garage door is typically the largest and heaviest movable object in your home, it may quickly become a safety threat if not properly maintained. Hence, any issue with your garage door opener would require immediate attention.

There are a number of probable causes for a garage door not to open or close properly. But a homeowner’s experience with garage doors that won’t open or close correctly can be exasperating. In my last article about programming Wayne Dalton garage door opener, a reader requested me to write about troubleshooting a garage door that won’t close. So, here I am!

This article will help you identify the source of your garage door’s issue through inspection and assessment and also list a series of troubleshooting steps that will enable you to fix the issue. Follow the fixes to determine whether the problem requires a fast fix or expert services.

Why Does My Garage Door Not Close?

Despite its seeming complexity, a garage door system is basically only a radio communication system. The transmitter sends a code to the receiver, which is tuned to the same frequency as the transmitter when you press the button on your garage door opener remote or inside your garage.

A garage door’s smooth, quiet, and reliable operation is made possible by a number of different parts. Your door may become stuck while shutting if any component of the system is blocked, loses its tightness, moves out of place, or is otherwise hindered from performing its function.

Some of the common issues that you might face with a garage door are as follows.

• Your garage door opens but will not close
• Your garage door will not stay closed
• Your garage door going up and down
• Your garage door won’t close all the way
• Your garage door is not closing with remote

If you are facing any of the above issues with your garage door, this section of the article will help you diagnose the cause and find a solution to the issue.

1. Ensure That Your Garage Door Opener Is Getting Enough Power

When a garage door won’t open or close, it’s usually because the garage door operator lacks electricity. In the funniest of circumstances, a disconnected power line will be the only cause of the issue. Perhaps, as you entered the house through your internal entrance from the garage, you might have inadvertently unplugged the operator, or maybe there is some issue with the wall outlet of the garage door opener.

Hence, powering on the wall switch of the garage door opener or plugging in the power cord somewhere else until the damaged outlet is fixed should solve the issue for you.

Sometimes, a more significant problem, like a blown fuse or circuit breaker, may keep a garage door opener from getting power. In this case, the person who should address issues with the circuit breaker is a professional.

If the power supply is appropriate, but your garage door will not close or open, read ahead to find the possible cause.

2. Ensure That Your Garage Door Remote Batteries Are Not Dead

Power access is necessary at both ends in order to operate a garage door. As a result, the garage door operator is not the only component that could potentially lose power. An expired battery in your garage door remote may also be the cause of your garage door not opening when activated by the remote.

If your garage door opener receives power but does not respond when you press the remote, it is probably time to replace the batteries. Simply slide out the remote’s back cover, take out the old batteries, and put in the fresh ones. In case a locking component is used to keep the batteries in place on some remote controls, removal of the cover necessitates the use of a screwdriver.

Check the battery tips before installing the new batteries to verify the ends are properly aligned inside.

3. See That The Remote Signals Are Not Being Blocked

A small antenna on your remote connects with the antenna on your garage door opener, allowing the transmission of signals to operate the garage door. When you try to close your garage door, if something is in the way of the antennas, your opener may be unable to receive the instruction from your remote. Hence, the garage door won’t close.

To ensure proper transmission of signals, keep the following points in mind.

• Wipe the antennae of your garage door opener remote with a soft cloth to remove any dirt or smudges that may be blocking your signal.

• While using the remote to open or close the garage door opener, ensure the remote is pointing directly towards the opener.

• Ensure that no tree branches or other natural obstacles obstruct the signal communication. If you find an obstacle, remove it or adjust the angle of your remote communication.

• Inspect the garage door opener antenna for signs of wear and tear, as the remote will not communicate with your garage door if the opener’s antenna is faulty. To resolve the issue, you may need to contact a professional garage door provider.

4. Ensure That Nothing Is Blocking The Garage Door

There could be a simple explanation for why you are facing the issue of the garage door not closing all the way or reversing the action. The US government requires automatic garage door manufacturers to include a feature that causes garage doors to reverse course when they close if something gets in their way. 

Hence, when the door collides with the item, a resistance-based function trigger raises the door to protect both the door and the object. This function is critical for keeping children and dogs safe when they are playing near garage doors.

Thus, before jumping to any conclusion on why your garage door won’t go down, it is wise to ensure that there is nothing that obstructs the door.

5. Look Out For Dirty Or Faulty Safety Sensors (Photo-Eyes)

Another safety feature found on most modern garage doors is the use of photo-eye sensors for protection. The garage door sensor is an essential component of the garage door opener system as it keeps the door from closing if there is an obstacle in its path. 

These sensors are located a few inches above the ground on both sides of the entrance. They employ tiny cameras to detect whether something is beneath the closing garage door. If anything is in the way of the picture sensor, the garage door will not close. It might even halt or reverse its trajectory to safeguard whatever is beneath it. 

This feature protects you, your pets, and your valuable things while also safeguarding the door from costly damage. But an obstructed or faulty garage door sensor may lead to your garage door not closing all the way and might as well be a safety hazard.

If you leave your garage door open all the time, or if you live near a busy crossroad, dust will readily penetrate the area. This, combined with the exhaust from your car, could build up on the sensor. The same problem can emerge if you live in a rainy location. Cleaning the sensors with a soft cloth will help you solve the issue.

A misalignment of the two photo-eyes could possibly also be the cause of your garage door not closing. When the two sensors interact, LED lights on both ends light up. If one light becomes misaligned with the other, the beam is unable to scan the clearance. Fatigue, physical pressure, and other factors can cause photo-eyes to become misaligned. You can simply align the sensors back by adjusting them.

6. Check The Alignment Of the Garage Door Track

If your garage door isn’t opening or closing properly, the problem could be with the tracks. The good news is that resolving this issue is a rather simple procedure. 

If your garage door has two tracks, you’ll need to first figure out which one is out of line.  To do so, close the garage door and examine the top edge. The track that is higher than the other is out of alignment. 

Once you’ve determined which track is out of alignment, take the steps outlined below to rectify it.

• Step 1: The bolts on the mounting bracket secure the track. To reposition the track, loosen the nuts on the track mounting bracket. However, do not entirely remove them.
• Step 2: Move the track in or out with a screwdriver until it is parallel to the other track.
• Step 3: Once the tracks have been aligned, tighten the nuts on the mounting bracket to secure the track.
• Step 4: Check to see if the door’s alignment has been corrected. Otherwise, repeat the steps as needed.

7. Look for Broken Tension Springs Or Cables

The garage door tension springs, which provide lifting force for the hefty door and are under great tension, can injure you if you are not careful. Basically, tension springs and cables are responsible for your garage doors to close slowly and safely. When the springs fail, your door will close quickly and crash to the ground with a loud bang. It is a hazardous condition if a person, pet, or thing is under the gate.

In such a circumstance, you should contact a professional to resolve the issue, primarily because the cables are highly prone to break due to increased pressure on them. Keep in mind that snapped cables can cause serious injury. Regular inspection of any cable damage will help to avoid serious repercussions.

8. Disable Disconnect Switch If Enabled

If your garage door motor starts but your door does not close, the disconnect switch in your gadget is most likely activated. This switch is always provided with the garage door opener to allow manual closing in the event of a power loss.

However, beginning July 1, 2019, all new garage door openers sold or installed in residential applications in the California will be required to have a battery backup as an important safety feature that should be placed in every home.

But in case the Disconnect Switch is accidentally triggered, the door loses contact with the motor. As a result, in order for the door to function regularly, you must deactivate it by pulling down the garage door’s manual safety release.

9. Set The Garage Door Limit Settings

If your garage door won’t go down, the limit switches, which are controls that instruct the garage door opener when to stop, may be malfunctioning. A limit switch that has been improperly programmed could prohibit the door from fully opening or closing. The door might also reopen after striking the ground as a result of it. Resetting the limit switches is the solution to these issues.

Here’s how

Step 1: To close the garage door, press the button on your remote control. Measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the garage door when it stops moving.

Step 2: With a flathead screwdriver, turn the down limit switch adjustment screw on the side of the garage door opener counterclockwise. You need to make one full turn for every 3 inches to shut down the door completely.

Step 3:  If the issue is still present, open and close the garage door and adjust the down limit switch until the door functions normally

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What causes my garage door to not open fully in cold weather?

Answer – A frozen spring is a typical reason for a garage door that doesn’t open fully in cold weather. Springs may become rigid and challenging to move. When the spring is frozen, your garage door opener has a tough time opening the door because the spring must convert the energy from your engine into lifting power.

Q2. When I use my garage door remote, the garage door opens but will not close. Why is my garage door not closing?

Answer – A blocked path between the sensors, dirty safety eyes, loose wires, or a bad motor control board are some of the reasons why your garage door opener opens using a remote but does not close. If any of these problems exist, the garage door opener remote will not work to close the garage door.

Q3. My garage door will not stay closed whenever I close it. Why does my garage door keep opening by itself?

Answer – Unfortunately, shorting of the circuit board is the most common reason why your garage door won’t stay closed and continues opening on its own. The garage door circuit board, often known as the logic board, is responsible for the overall operation of the garage door. Over time, circuits on the board can become broken, leading the door to open and close on its own.

Q4. I have checked for all the troubleshoots, but my chamberlain garage door won’t close. How can I fix the issue? 

Answer – In case you have tried all the troubleshoots given in the article but your  Chamberlain garage door won’t close, try reprogramming the garage door following the steps given below.

• Step 1: Sit inside your vehicle and close the doors.
• Step 2: Locate the HomeLink control panel. It is usually located on or close to the rearview mirror or with the primary control buttons of your vehicle. 
• Step 2: Press and hold button 1 and button 3 on the control panel simultaneously.
• Step 3: You will notice that the LED on your rearview mirror will start blinking. Continue holding the buttons for another 30-40 seconds, and release both buttons once the LED stops blinking. This step will reset any existing programs on your HomeLink system.
• Step 4: Now, press the button you want to program to operate your garage door on your HomeLink system.
• Step 5: Simultaneously, hold your garage remote within 1-3 inches from the system and press the Open button on your remote until the indicator light starts flashing.
• Step 5: Release both the buttons when the light stops flashing.

Once you complete the above process, you should be able to program your garage door opener to your car. Test the functioning by opening or closing your garage button. 

Q5. My Genie garage door won’t close even after several tries. Why does my garage door not close, and the light flashes?

Answer – Your garage door depends on the use of sensors to ensure that it will stop closing when it detects movement underneath the garage door. The sensors usually flash a light when an obstruction is detected. However, the garage door light will blink continuously, and the door will not close if the sensors are not correctly aligned.

Q6. I am facing an issue of the garage door going up and down frequently. What may be the possible cause?

Answer – Usually, broken infrared sensors are to blame for a garage door that suddenly stops and rises again. You will observe one of the sensor lights blinking if there is a problem. Blockages, dirty photo-eye, or loose wiring can all lead to malfunctioning sensors. As a result, the transmitters struggle to effectively close the garage door.

Conclusion

In addition to being difficult to manage, broken garage doors pose a threat to the safety of your loved ones and assets. Hence, if your garage door is not closing or exhibiting obstruction while moving, troubleshooting it immediately is wise. 

You may fix your garage door on your own by using the information in this article, which discusses various potential reasons and solutions to the problem. However, you should leave some difficulties to the experts if they look complicated and you aren’t an expert in mechanics.

If you found the article useful, please let me know in the comment box and forward it to family and friends who might find it interesting. I would be pleased to assist you if you have any additional questions concerning home security.