Why Won't My Garage Door Open or Close?

When a garage door refuses to open or close, it is easy to assume the worst. The good news is that most of the time the cause is one of a short list of issues, and several of them you can check in a couple of minutes before anyone comes out. Work through the quick checks below first. If none of them solve it, the section further down explains the mechanical failures that need a technician.

Start here: safe checks you can do in 2 minutes

Run through these before assuming the door is broken. None of them involve touching the springs or cables, which is where the real danger is.

1. Check the power. Make sure the opener is plugged in and the outlet has power. A tripped GFCI or breaker after a storm is a very common cause, especially around here in the wet season.
2. Try the wall button, not just the remote. If the wall button works but the remote does not, the problem is the remote (usually a dead battery), not the door.
3. Look for the lock or vacation mode. Many wall consoles have a lock button. If it is on, the remotes stop working. Hold it a few seconds to turn it off.
4. Check the photo-eye sensors. If the door will not close, the two small sensors near the floor on each side may be misaligned or blocked. Wipe the lenses, clear anything in the path, and make sure both indicator lights are steady, not blinking.
5. Watch and listen when you press the button. Does the motor run but the door not move? Does it move an inch and reverse? Is there no sound at all? Each of these points to a different cause below.

Common reasons a garage door won't open

A broken torsion spring

The springs above the door do the heavy lifting. When one snaps, the opener alone cannot raise the door, so it may lift an inch and stop, or not move at all. You might see a visible gap in the coiled spring above the door. This is the single most common reason a door will not open, and it is a job for a professional. Learn more on our garage door spring replacement page.

A snapped or off-track cable

The lift cables run alongside the door and work with the springs. If one frays or snaps, the door can hang crooked, jam, or come off its track. Do not operate a door with a broken cable.

A failed or unplugged opener

If the motor makes no sound at all, the opener may have lost power, or the motor or logic board may have failed. If it hums or runs without moving the door, the trolley may be disconnected or the gear inside worn out. See opener repair and installation.

Misaligned safety sensors

The photo-eye sensors are the usual reason a door will not close (it may start down and reverse, or the opener light blinks). A bumped bracket, a spider web, or sun glare can all trip them.

Track obstruction or worn rollers

A stone, a bent track, or a seized roller can stop the door partway. If it binds or grinds at the same spot every time, look for something in the track.

Reasons a garage door won't close

• Blocked or misaligned photo-eye sensors (the most common cause by far)
• The opener's close-force or travel limits are set wrong, so it senses an obstruction that is not there
• Something in the track path, including built-up debris near the floor
• A worn roller catching at one point in the track

What not to do

• Do not keep pressing the opener button when the door will not move. You can burn out the motor.
• Do not try to loosen, adjust, or replace a torsion spring yourself. They are under extreme tension and cause serious injuries every year.
• Do not run the opener with a broken spring or cable. It can bend the door or damage the opener.

When to call a professional

If the quick checks did not fix it, or you suspect a spring, cable, or opener failure, that is the point to bring in a technician. A garage door repair visit starts with a free on-site diagnosis and an upfront written price before any work begins. If your door is stuck open and you cannot secure your home, our emergency garage door service dispatches same-day. We cover Seattle, Bellevue, and the surrounding Eastside and South King County.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my garage door open with the remote but works on the wall button?

That points to the remote or receiver, not the door itself. Try fresh remote batteries first. If the wall button works and both remotes do not, the opener's antenna or logic board may need service, or a nearby LED light or device is causing interference. An opener technician can pinpoint it quickly.

My garage door only opens a few inches then stops. What's wrong?

A door that lifts an inch or two and reverses usually has a broken torsion spring, or the opener's force and travel limits are off. If you hear the motor straining or a loud bang came first, it is almost certainly a spring. Do not keep pressing the button, since that can burn out the opener.

Is it safe to open my garage door manually if it won't work?

Only if the door is fully closed and you have confirmed the spring is not broken. Pull the red emergency release cord and lift slowly. If the door feels extremely heavy or wants to slam down, the spring is broken and you should stop and call a professional. A door under a broken spring can fall.

How fast can Northbridge fix a garage door that won't open?

We book most repairs the same day across Seattle and the Eastside, often within a few hours. Our trucks carry common springs, cables, rollers, and opener parts, so the large majority of doors are fixed in a single visit.