Troubleshooting · 5 min read
Garage Door Won't Open: Common Causes
Published
A door that won't open is either an electrical problem, a control problem, or a mechanical problem. Checking them in that order takes a few minutes and often saves a service call.
Start with power
Confirm the opener has power: check that it's plugged in, look for a tripped breaker or GFCI outlet in the garage, and see whether the unit's light or LED responds at all. Garage circuits often share a breaker with exterior outlets, so a tripped GFCI outside can take the opener with it.
Then controls and lockout
If the wall button works but the remotes don't, you're looking at remote batteries or pairing. If the remotes work but the wall button doesn't, it's the wall control or its wiring.
Also check for vacation lockout mode — most wall consoles have a lock button that disables remotes entirely, and it gets pressed by accident more often than you'd think.
Check whether the trolley is engaged
If the motor runs and the rail moves but the door stays put, the trolley is disconnected from the door arm. Run the opener until the trolley meets the arm and it should re-latch, or pull the release cord toward the door while the unit cycles.
Now the mechanical causes
If the motor hums or strains and the door barely moves, stop and check the springs. Look for a gap in the coil above the door. Disconnect the opener and try lifting the door by hand — if it feels extremely heavy, the counterbalance is gone and no amount of opener adjustment will fix it.
A door that's binding in the track, has a slack cable, or is sitting crooked in the opening is also a mechanical stop. Don't keep pressing the button.
When to stop troubleshooting
Once you've confirmed power and controls are fine, the remaining causes involve components under tension. That's the point to hand it off rather than experiment.