Start with what the door does: nothing, moves then stops, reverses, makes noise or hangs crooked. Power, the wall control Lock button, the release handle and sensor alignment are safe checks. Springs, cables, tracks and brackets are not, and a heavy, crooked or off-track door should be left alone until a technician sees it.
Quick facts by symptom
| Symptom | Safe first check | Stop and call when |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing happens | Power, the wall control Lock light, the remote battery | The opener hums or runs and the door stays still |
| Opens but will not close | Sensor lenses and alignment, anything in the beam | The door slams or closes fast |
| Reverses right after touching the floor | Sensors, then the opener's travel settings per the manual | It reverses after settings are set correctly |
| Starts then stops partway | Obstruction in the tracks, release handle | It is heavy, crooked or a cable looks loose |
| Loud bang, then the door is heavy | Nothing: do not lift it | Always: broken spring likely |
| Scraping, grinding or squealing | Look at tracks, rollers and seals | A roller is out of its track or the door rubs |
A table of first checks, not a repair guide. Springs, cables and brackets are technician work.
What is the most common garage door problem?
There is no official count, and company lists differ. One garage door company ranks a remote or wall switch that does not work first, because it is the simplest problem. Lists from door makers also include misaligned or dirty sensors, broken springs, doors off their tracks, worn rollers and opener faults. See a door that will not open and a door that will not close.
Myth: the opener lifts the door
Fact: the springs carry the weight. Chamberlain says a balanced door stays in place when lifted partway, supported entirely by its springs. If it slams shut or shoots upward, it is out of balance, and Chamberlain says an unbalanced door may not reverse when required. A broken spring leaves the opener to lift the whole weight, which it was not built for. See signs of a broken spring.
Myth: raise the force if the door reverses
Fact: the opposite. Chamberlain says never to increase the force beyond the minimum needed to close the door, and to clear obstructions and align the sensors first. Test the safety reversal after any change. See the monthly safety tests and a blinking sensor light.
Myth: oil everything, or fix one spring
Fact: Clopay says to keep lubricant off the track itself. And if a door has two springs, DASMA says to replace both, even when only one has broken. Clopay says the same. Springs and cables are under high tension, so leave them to a technician.
Myth: a sensor can be taped over
Fact: the sensors are the entrapment protection. According to CPSC, openers made on or after January 1, 1993 have to include an external protection device such as an electric eye, or a constant contact button. A taped, bypassed or unplugged sensor leaves the door unprotected. If sunlight is the trouble, see sunlight and sensors.
Where we come in
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, openers and sensors across Southern California, and our city pages cover California. We repair garage doors in Imperial Beach, Cupertino and Oxnard. Call (213) 340-4232 or use the estimate form and tell us what the door does. Our 12-point safety inspection is $89, and the final price of any repair is confirmed after we see the door. See garage door repair and spring repair.
Questions people ask
What is the most common garage door repair?
Lists differ by company. A remote or wall switch that does not work is often the simplest problem, and sensors, springs, rollers, off-track doors and openers complete the usual list. Spring work needs a technician.
What is the most common problem with garage doors?
Simple causes come first: power, a remote battery, a wall control Lock button or misaligned sensors. If the door is heavy, crooked or made a loud bang, suspect a spring or cable.
Where should I start when a garage door stops working?
Note what the door does, then use the table above. Check power, the Lock light, the release handle and the sensors. Stop if the door is heavy, crooked or off track.
When should I stop troubleshooting and call?
Call when the door is heavy, crooked, off track, has a loose cable or a gap in a spring, or if a safety test fails. Do not adjust springs, cables or brackets yourself.
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City pages near you
We repair and install in these cities. Each page has local notes, prices and reviews.
Read next
Sources
- Chamberlain Group support: How to test the balance of a garage door
- Chamberlain Group support: Why won't my garage door fully close
- Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA): Garage Doors safety tips
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Safety Commission Publishes Final Rules For Automatic Garage Door Openers
- Clopay: Why Garage Doors Get Stuck, causes and fixes
- Clopay: Garage Door Safety Checklist
- Clopay: Garage Door Troubleshooting Tips
- A1 Garage Door Service: what is the most common problem with garage doors