What should i do if my garage door won’t close?

Q: What should i do if my garage door won’t close?

A: Automatic garage door and manual garage door. (Automatic doors have a opener unit with a motor that opens or closes door automatically by remote or wall button. Manual garage doors don’t have opener motors and have to be opened and locked by hand.)

       Most of the time an automatic door that won’t close, its an opener problem. If its not the opener there might be some storage items blocking door from closing or items blocking infrared safety sensors (safety sensors: sensors located at the bottom corners of door that keep door from closing when door opening is obstructed.) keeping opener from closing door. If you have a door malfunction and door is crooked and moves very little than your cables may have come off cable drums (cable drums are in the upper right hand corners attached to same pole as springs and cable winds up on them as door opens.) Also door can rub along wall or door opening keeping it from operating correctly.

       If your door is crooked and parts are falling out or part of door is hanging down you need a technician ASAP there is a cable malfunction. If you can pull down on the emergency release cord (emergency release: red handle and or red cord hanging about 1 to 2 feet long hanging down from opener.) and door will close and lock properly then you have to assume its an opener malfunction. When you push button to close garage door and the opener unit is clicking and flashing lights than there is an obstruction in door opening blocking safety sensors or a sensor has been knocked off its bracket or the two safety sensors are not lined up with each other. in this case the sensors lights will blink. Or door is stuck and opener cant close door. When you push button and the opener does nothing at all or the motor is running and nothing is moving it is an internal malfunction.

       In the past i have done a lot of work for home warranty insurance companies that cover garage doors and openers. A customer makes a claim with warranty co. and i go there and it is is as simple as something blocking safety sensors like a shovel or a broom, trash can even homes that have water purification systems that require tanks to be changed out monthly and the delivery man knocked out or broke sensor when changing tanks. Or the emergency release has been pulled and the door and opener are not engaged, so opener goes back and forth and the door doesn’t move.

       When garage door has a visible problems like cables hanging everywhere crooked door then don’t attempt to fix yourself you can seriously hurt your self. Openers making loud popping or grinding need repair. Simple opener problems can save you a phone call to technician.