Garage Door Will Not Open: Common Causes and What to Check First
A door that will not open can have a simple cause or a serious one. Work through these checks in order, and know when to stop and call.
A garage door that will not open is a problem that affects the whole day. The car is trapped inside, or the door is the main way into the house, and nothing you press seems to help. Before you call for help, there are a few simple checks that can rule out an easy cause. Work through them in order, and stop as soon as you find a problem that involves springs, cables, or a door that is off its track. Those are contractor jobs, not do-it-yourself jobs.
Check power and the opener first
Check whether the door is disconnected
The emergency release cord hangs from the opener trolley, and pulling it disconnects the door from the opener so the door can be moved by hand. If someone pulled it by accident, the opener will run but the door will stay still. Look at the trolley on the opener rail: if it moves when you press the button but the door does not follow, the door is disconnected. A contractor can reconnect it and check the release mechanism. Do not try to reconnect a heavy door yourself if the spring may also be broken, because the door could be far heavier than you expect.
Look for a broken spring or cable
If the door will not open and it feels very heavy, a broken spring is the most likely cause. Listen for whether you heard a loud bang earlier, and look for a gap in the spring coil above the door. A snapped cable can also stop the door, and it usually leaves the door hanging crooked, with one side lower than the other. Both problems mean the door is no longer balanced, and forcing it can bend the tracks or cause the door to fall. Leave the door where it is and call for garage door spring repair. Our garage door repair page lists the other symptoms that point to spring and cable problems.
Check the tracks, rollers, and sensors
A roller that has come out of its track or a bent track can jam the door so firmly that the opener cannot move it. Look along both vertical tracks for a roller that is visibly outside the rail, or a dent or kink in the track. Also check that nothing is blocking the door's path, inside or outside the garage, and that the photo-eye safety sensors near the floor are clean and aligned. A blocked sensor usually stops the door from closing rather than opening, but it is worth a quick look. If the door is jammed, do not keep running the opener, because it can strip its gears or burn out the motor.
When to call for help
Call (615) 845-8263 if the door is heavy, crooked, off its track, or if you heard a loud bang. Describe whether the door is open or closed, what the opener does when you press the button, and what you can see. Homeowners in Murfreesboro, TN can call and describe the problem in their own words, and we will help connect them with an independent local contractor who can inspect the door, the springs, the cables, and the opener, and discuss the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open the door by hand if the opener fails?
Only if the door feels normal in weight and moves smoothly. If it is very heavy or crooked, leave it down and call for help.
Why does my door open a few inches and then stop?
That usually points to a broken spring or a door that is binding in its tracks. Stop using the opener and call for service assistance.
Related services
- Garage Door Repair — Help with doors that will not open, will not close, make noise, or have stopped working the way they should.
- Garage Door Opener Repair — Help with openers that hum, click, reverse, or stop responding to the remote, keypad, or wall control.
Related guides
- Garage Door Will Not Close and Keeps Reversing: Why It Happens
- Garage Door Off Track: Causes and What to Do
See all guides on our blog, or browse our garage door services.
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Call now to speak with a garage door specialist about your door, or get service assistance through our contact page.