A garage door that won’t close can be frustrating and even a security risk. Whether you’re rushing to leave the house or trying to secure your home for the night, a malfunctioning garage door disrupts your routine. Fortunately, many of the reasons behind this issue are easy to diagnose and fix. In this post, the experts from AAA Action Garage Doors explore the most common causes of a garage door that refuses to close and how to approach them.
Garage Door Sensor Obstructions or Misalignment
One of the most frequent causes of a garage door that won’t close is a problem with the safety sensors. These sensors are located on either side of the garage door near the ground. They’re designed to detect objects in the door’s path to prevent accidents. If these sensors are blocked by debris, spider webs, or even a small object, the door will refuse to close. Similarly, if the sensors become misaligned or knocked out of position, they might not communicate correctly, which can trigger the safety feature and keep the door open. Cleaning the sensors and ensuring they’re facing each other directly with steady indicator lights can resolve this issue quickly.
Remote or Wall Switch Malfunctions
Another possibility is an issue with your remote control or the wall switch. Dead batteries in the remote can cause the door to stop responding entirely. In some cases, the remote may need to be reprogrammed. The wall switch can also fail due to wiring issues or age. If the wall switch is not responding but the door operates with the remote or keypad, that’s a clear sign the issue is with the wall button itself. Resetting or replacing these components may be necessary to restore normal function.
Garage Door Track or Roller Problems
Garage doors operate on a set of tracks, and any obstruction, dent, or misalignment in these tracks can prevent the door from closing fully. If the rollers are worn out or jammed, the door might get stuck halfway or bounce back up as a safety measure. In such cases, you may notice the door struggling to move smoothly or making unusual noises. A thorough visual inspection can help identify visible damage. If you find any obstructions or damaged parts, it may be time to call a garage door technician for repairs or part replacements.
Limit Settings on the Garage Door Opener
Modern garage door openers come with adjustable limit settings that control how far the door travels when opening or closing. If these settings are too high, the door might reach the ground and then think it has hit an object, causing it to reverse direction. This is a common issue with newly installed doors or after a power outage or reset. Adjusting the down limit setting slightly can often fix the problem.
Broken Torsion or Extension Garage Door Springs
Finally, the springs that support the door’s movement can break or wear out over time. Torsion and extension springs bear much of the weight of the door, and if one of them fails, the opener might not be able to close the door safely. This issue is often accompanied by a loud bang when the spring breaks and will require immediate attention from a professional due to the high tension involved in spring systems.
Garage Door Services in Aliante, Centennial, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Lone Mountain Village, North LV, Peccole Ranch, Paradise, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, Tuscany Village, Whitney, Winchester & Las Vegas Nevada
While some garage door problems can be fixed with basic tools and troubleshooting, others involve electrical components or heavy mechanical parts that can be dangerous to repair without proper training. If you’re unsure about the cause or can’t resolve it on your own, calling AAA Action Garage Doors is the safest choice. They can diagnose the problem quickly and ensure your door returns to proper working order.
