Published on 31 January 2018
There are few problems more inconvenient than a door that won’t open, except perhaps when that door is the main access point to your garage. There are a number of factors which might be a cause of your garage door’s stubborn refusal to open, some more easily fixable than others.
This is a common problem, in manual as well as automated garage doors, as the life cycle of the springs eventually runs out, leaving them prone to snapping or breaking. The springs act as counterweights to the door itself – which, if your door opens manually, is the reason why the door normally doesn’t feel heavy when you lift it.
As such, it’s best to consult a professional when it comes to repairs, as they’ll have the necessary training and experience to ensure your springs are replaced safely and will last a long time.
The cables run from the top of the door to the bottom, and can sometimes snap when the springs break, or can weaken and fray from general wear and tear. They might also have become stuck, or not wound from the drum correctly. It can be dangerous to replace or fix them yourself, as they support the weight of the door, which of course can be extremely dangerous if it were to fall suddenly.
Every electric garage door comes with a disconnect switch which enables you to operate the door without the motor. Check this has not been switched on, as this could be preventing the electric mechanism from engaging.
Also, a heavy rainstorm or a leak could have damaged the electrics, in which case, this is something you shouldn’t try to fix yourself, but instead call an expert.
Replace the batteries in your remote, and check your garage door also has the necessary power in order to operate, with no damaged cables or blown fuses affecting the system.
If there are other garage doors nearby, you might be experiencing disruptions to the radio signal between your garage and its remote. Once the interfering signals are detected, their effect can often be reduced.
This is commonly caused by worn-out rollers, general wear and tear (including breaking springs or cables) or knocking the door with your car. Garage doors are very heavy and as a result could prove dangerous, not to mention difficult and time consuming, to fix yourself. Check out our article written in more detail about this particular problem.
If there’s anything that may have moved either inside your garage or outside, this may prevent the door from opening, as modern garage doors are designed to stop when they encounter an obstacle.
If there’s nothing immediately obvious, carefully check the tracks and internal mechanisms for debris including small stones, excess dirt and pieces of rubbish. You could also inspect the photo-eye sensor (the piece of equipment that senses obstacles), as this might be disrupting the signal that opens and closes the door.
This could be a testament to how well your lock works to outside intruders, if it is also preventing you from getting in! Check there are no metal parts that have slid down and are preventing you from unlocking your door, and that the key is working as it should.
If you are still experiencing problems with your garage door, simply give our team a call and we’ll be happy to help. As leading garage door specialists with over 40 years of experience, our family run business has values based on quality and the best in customer service. With free site surveys and quotations, and experts on hand every step of the way, you can rest assured your garage door solution is in the best possible hands.
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