Garage doors can fail in a lot of different ways, and most problems come down to a few core systems: springs, cables, rollers, tracks, sensors, and the opener itself. This page covers some of the most common problems that we get calls for.
Door Won’t Open
If the door won’t open at all, the most common cause is a broken spring. When a spring snaps, the door becomes extremely heavy and the opener can’t lift it. In many cases the opener will hum, strain, or make a brief clicking sound before shutting itself off to prevent damage. If the door feels unusually heavy when you try to lift it manually, or if you see a visible gap in the spring, the spring is broken and the door should not be operated.
If the opener clicks once and doesn’t even attempt to move the door, check to make sure the door isn’t locked. Many garage doors still have manual slide locks or handle locks that can be accidentally engaged. Make sure the horizontal bars are fully retracted and the lock handle is in the open position before assuming the opener has failed.
Door Won’t Close
If the door won’t close and the opener light is flashing, start with the safety sensors. Make sure both sensors are aligned, the LEDs are solid, and nothing is blocking the beam. Even a slight vibration, a bumped bracket, or direct sunlight can cause intermittent failures. If the sensors are aligned and the door still won’t close, the opener may be detecting resistance somewhere in the travel path.
Door Starts to Move but Reverses
If the door starts to move but reverses immediately, that usually means the opener is sensing a bind. Check the tracks for dents, obstructions, or rollers that aren’t turning freely. A dry or seized roller can cause the opener to think the door is hitting something. You can also disconnect the opener and lift the door manually to see if the door feels heavy or uneven, which points to a spring or cable issue.
Opener Hums but the Door Doesn’t Move
If the opener hums but the door doesn’t move, the motor may be running without the trolley engaged, or the internal gear set may be stripped. Chain and belt‑drive openers can also slip if the tension is too loose. If the opener is clicking instead of running, that can indicate a board or capacitor problem.
Door is Crooked, Uneven, or Jammed in the Tracks
If the door is crooked, uneven, or jammed in the tracks, that’s almost always a cable or spring issue. A broken spring will make the door extremely heavy, and a loose or frayed cable can cause one side to drop. These are not DIY‑safe repairs, but they’re important symptoms to recognize.