Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get in or out of your home and the garage door is stuck. There could be many reasons why the door isn’t opening (or closing for that matter), from a blocked photo eye sensor to a misalignment of the tracks. Here are the top six reasons your garage door is failing to open up.

1.     The Photo Eye is Blocked

Today’s more recent garage doors have photo eyes that can detect if a person or object is blocking the door, thus preventing the door from lowering all the way. The photo eye is usually about four to six inches off the ground. The eye itself is only the size of pea, emitting a laser beam across the garage that will cut off the signal that lowers or raises the door if interrupted.

You can check on the photo eye by seeing if the cord attached to it has been cut or damaged. Sometimes water from a rainstorm can damage the photo eye. But more often than not, dirt and dust have clogged the eye and blocked the laser beam, so just use a tissue to clean it.

2.     The Operator’s Power Source is Disrupted

It sounds silly but many people unplug the source of power and then are baffled as to why their garage door opener won’t work. Double check that your garage door opener is plugged in, and check that the outlet is working too. Sometimes outlets just stop working, often without warning. Check the fuse, circuit breaker or GFCI as well.

3.     The Garage Door Torsion Springs are Broken

You’ll know when your torsion spring breaks. It’s a loud popping sound that resembles a gunshot or fire cracker. Broken springs are one of the most common causes for customer calls. If you know you have a broken spring, do not attempt to open the door. Call a technician to perform the repair right away.

4.     The Cables Have Snapped or Popped Off

Cables can become disengaged on their own, or sometimes this occurs as a result of a torsion spring breaking. The cable snapping can damage your car or the wall, or pose grave danger if a person is standing nearby. Call a technician to repair or replace it.

5.     The Remote Control has Malfunctioned

If the remote isn’t opening your door, there are a few things that could be wrong, such as:

  • You’re out of range.
  • The antenna on the motor is damaged or blocked from the signal.
  • The battery is dead (if the door opens with the wall switch)
  • You may need to reprogram the remote if none of the above is the culprit.

6.     The Door is Off its Track

When the door isn’t on the track properly, it won’t slide as easily as it should. You should:

  • Make sure the door rolls smoothly along the metal track.
  • Check the track for bends, bumps, obstacles, debris or gaps.
  • Listen for any squeaks or look for areas of friction. If the door slows down or gets stuck along the way, that section of track is probably misaligned.

Contact M&M Garage Doors at 586-610-5434 if you need help with any of the above problems. In addition, there could be other reasons why your garage door isn’t working. Our professionals can come out to inspect the situation and make a recommendation.