Help! My Garage Door Won’t Close

If your remote-control garage door starts misbehaving, just troubleshoot these safety sensors. It’s easy — no tools or special training required.

Doesn’t it seem that things only go wrong when you are in a hurry? Say you are rushing to an appointment or you are kicking off a big day planned. You back out your car and press the garage door button. Your door refuses to go down. Maddening! If your garage door rejects your remote command, there are a few quick things you can do to troubleshoot the problem.

When you press the button, does your door start to descend, then come back up again? Accompanied by loud clicking and the flashing of the opener’s light? If so, you can generally trace the problem to the electronic sensors just inside your garage door.

A safety feature since the early 1990s, these two eyes are trained on one another, maintaining an invisible beam. Should a running pet or a child break the beam, the door will not go down. But consider, if the beam is otherwise broken, the door also won’t go down.

What You Can Do – Common Causes and Solutions

Check each sensor mounted near floor level, just inside the door:

Dirty Lenses

These lenses can collect a surprising amount of grime and even cobwebs. A quick wipe with a damp cloth or tissue can restore their sight instantly.

Misaligned Sensors

When sensors are correctly pointed at one another, each exhibits an illuminated LED. If one unit is lit, and the other is not, realign until they are both communicating.

Loose Sensors

Sensors can misalign if brackets or fasteners become loose. That’s easy to understand considering the heavy vibrations associated with regular door operation. If you are in a hurry, finger tighten as best you can; plan to return later with proper tools to snug up all connections.

Power problems

Check behind each sensor unit to make certain that the wiring is intact. Often wires are fastened with a hand-tightened wire nut. If you see bare wires exposed, twist the pair back together and secure with a fresh wire nut or a strip of non-conductive electrical tape.  Note: sensors employ low voltage wiring, no risk of shock hazard.

Oftentimes these types of garage door problems come after a well-meaning family member sweeps out a dusty garage floor. Your weekend warrior may have inadvertently whacked a sensor with a broom, causing your system to think something is wrong. These easy steps should quickly have your sensors seeing “eye to eye.”

Can’t fix the problem? 

We can help you get to the root of the problem with a stubborn garage door opener and give you the best options for your wants and needs. If you live in Knox, Anderson, Roane, Union, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier, Blount, or Loudon county, we can serve all your garage door needs. Click here or call (865) 573-1950 to tell us about your concerns. We will happily collaborate with you and provide you with a professional service call or estimate.