Top Reasons Why Your Garage Door Won’t Close

Left wondering why your garage door won’t close? You might be interested in knowing why and what you can do to troubleshoot the issue. Knowing the cause of why your garage door won’t close is the first step. The second is knowing when it’s time to call for a professional garage door repair from the expert team at Dodds Garage Doors.

If your garage door won’t close all the way, it’s an obvious sign that there’s a problem. But what do you do when your garage door won’t close? Forcing it to close will only worsen the issue, if not outright damage, your garage door beyond repair. That’s why our experts at Dodds Doors have weighed in. 

Garage door not closing? Here are the top reasons why, what you can do to troubleshoot the issue, and when to call for a professional garage door repair.

Common Reasons Your Garage Door Won’t Close

1. Unaligned Safety Sensors

The most common reason for a garage door that won’t close is because of unaligned or blocked safety sensors. These safety sensors are located near the floor and can become misaligned or dirty over time, meaning your garage door won’t close if they’re not properly aligned or obstructed in some way. Checking the sensors to make sure that they’re in alignment is key.

These vital sensors detect when there’s an obstruction that prevents the garage door from closing. They need to be able to “see” each other to function properly. The best way to solve the issue, if this is the problem, is to clean the lenses and ensure that they’re properly aligned with each other. The garage door still won’t close? Then it might be another problem.

2. Obstructions

It’s important to keep the path of your garage door free and clear of any obstructions. That’s because objects that block the door, including debris or even a small item that you might not notice at first glance, can trigger the door’s safety mechanisms. These will cause the door to reverse. It’s a common reason why your garage door won’t close.

Whether you’re pulling in or out, always conduct a visual inspection to ensure that there’s nothing that could stop the door from closing or triggering the safety mechanisms. Anything in the path of your garage door could prevent the door from closing, so make sure that you always keep its path clear.

3. Damaged Tracks or Rollers

Another common problem that can result in your garage door not closing is that the tracks might be bent or damaged. Or the rollers might be stuck. This means that the garage door’s movement is impeded, and it won’t be able to close properly; it can also affect your garage door opening, which may be an issue. Check the tracks and your rollers for any obstructions.

You should carefully inspect your garage door’s rollers and tracks regularly to check for any signs of damage. It’s important to promptly repair any damage you notice, which might mean you need to call your local garage door technician; if the damage is severe, the parts may need to be replaced to allow your garage door to close completely.

4. Inaccurate Travel Limits

Now, this might be a little more complicated, but your garage door’s travel limit settings might be the cause of the issue of your garage door not closing. They might need to be adjusted, or they could impact the opening and closing of your garage door.

If the travel limit settings are set too high, then your garage door will stop before it closes completely. The solution is to adjust the limit screws on your garage door opener, but this can be a complicated repair for a homeowner to handle. It’s recommended that you seek out a professional for repair and maintenance. If this is the case, why won’t your garage door open?

5. Damaged Cables or Springs

Garage door issues can often be traced back to the torsion springs and cables that operate it. If you have worn-out cables or broken springs, it can keep your garage door from closing properly.

The torsion or extension springs might need replacement. If you suspect this is why your door does not close, it’s recommended that you seek out professional repairs from your local garage door repair service. Call a garage door specialist from Dodds Doors today to help if you think the door needs repairs.

6. Electrical Problems

Lastly, your problem with your garage door not closing might be caused by issues with its electrical components, particularly those within the door opener. Check to make sure that the door opener is receiving power and that your garage door remote control or keypad is receiving adequate power.

The most common sources of electrical problems are moisture issues or because of a power surge, which can result in your garage door opener malfunctioning. The garage door won’t open? Check that it has power, and if you’re comfortable with doing so, ensure that the connections are secure.

Troubleshooting Why Your Garage Door Won’t Close

If your garage door is not closing, it’s a serious issue that can compromise the security of your home. There are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem, which we’ve outlined below. If the door won’t open or close, and you’re struggling to figure out the source of the problem, you might need a professional to come in and fix a garage door issue for you.

Troubleshooting Tips When Your Garage Door Won’t Close

1. Conduct a Visual Inspection: Check to make sure that there are no obstructions under the door or in its path. Check the door tracks and rollers to make sure they are also unobstructed and undamaged. Make sure the rollers within the tracks are free of any obstacles and that they’re not damaged or rusted.
2. Check the Safety Sensors: Sensors can fall out of alignment over time, so check to make sure that they’re properly aligned and clean and that there’s no issue with the sensors operating properly.
3. Test Manual Operation: You want to see if your door will open and close smoothly by hand. If it doesn’t close or open, then you’re likely looking at a mechanical issue as the culprit for why your garage door won’t close.
4. Adjust the Limit Settings: Adjust or modify the limit screws on your garage door opener as needed to try and resolve the problem.
5. Check the Power Supply: Check to ensure that your garage door opener is receiving power.
6. Call a Professional: If none of the above steps resolve the issue of your garage door not closing, it’s time to seek out a qualified garage door technician for more involved troubleshooting and diagnosis.

Basic troubleshooting can help you pinpoint the cause of why your garage door won’t close with the remote, especially if you can close it manually yourself. The garage door springs might be damaged, resulting in your garage door not closing. It could be a problem with the garage door opener motor. Whatever the case might be, if you can’t find and repair the source of the problem yourself, dealing with a garage door technician might be the solution.

Frequently Asked Questions on Why Your Garage Door Won’t Close

What Should I Do if My Garage Door Tracks are Damaged?

There are signs that your garage door tracks are damaged, which can result in your garage door not closing. Check for the following if you suspect the garage door may have damaged tracks:

• Excessive noise during operation
• Shaking or stuttering while the door moves
• Visible damage to the tracks (i.e., bends, cracks)

It’s important to note that you should not attempt garage door repairs on your own, especially in cases where the tracks are significantly damaged. Garage doors are incredibly heavy, and improperly done repairs pose immediate safety risks. You should immediately call for a new garage door repair if:

• The tracks are no longer parallel
• There’s persistent noise
• There’s uneven movement
• Visible damage or rust
• Door refuses to open or close properly/smoothly

How Do I Align the Safety Sensors for My Garage Door?

If you feel confident in tackling this repair, then here is what you need to do to realign your garage door’s sensors:

1. Turn off the power supply to your garage door opener as a safety precaution.
2. Clean the sensors, removing dust and debris from them.
3. Loosen the mounting bracket screws, but don’t remove them completely.
4. Attach a string from one sensor and stretch it across your garage to the other sensor. Use a level to ensure that the string is perfectly horizontal.
5. Adjust the sensor mounting brackets until both sensors are the exact same height.
6. Tighten the mounting screws.
7. Recheck the alignment of the sensors with a level.
8. Check the sensor lights: If both lights are green and steady, then that means they are in alignment. If the lights are blinking or are of different colours, that indicates misalignment.

Always consult the user manual for your garage door when troubleshooting. It will provide accurate instructions for your garage door’s make and model.

Garage Door Won’t Close? Time to Call the Experts at Dodds Doors

If your garage door isn’t closing and you’re at the end of your rope, it might be time to connect with the professional garage door technicians at Dodds Doors. 

Give us a call today at 1-877-503-6337 to schedule an appointment if your garage door won’t close! We proudly serve all the local communities in and around the Greater Toronto Area.