Garage Door Won’t Open? 7 Common Causes and What to Do Next

A garage door that won’t open is almost always caused by one of seven things: a disconnected opener, a tripped safety sensor, a dead remote battery, a broken spring, a misaligned track, a power or fuse problem, or a locked manual release. Most are quick to check. A few should never be fixed yourself. Here is how to tell which one you are dealing with, what is safe to try, and when to call a professional in Addison, IL.

Start here: what are you seeing?

Tap the closest match for a likely cause.

My remote fails, but the wall button works

Likely cause 1: remote battery. Replace the remote battery. If it still fails, the remote may need reprogramming.

Nothing happens at all

Likely cause 2: no power. Check the plug, the outlet, and the breaker or GFCI before anything else.

Lights blink and the door will not close

Likely cause 3: safety sensors. Clean both sensor lenses and make sure they face each other.

The motor runs, but the door does not move

Likely cause 6 or 7. The opener may have disconnected, or a spring has broken. Do not try to lift a heavy door that will not move. Call a professional.

I heard a loud bang and the door feels heavy

Likely cause 7: broken spring or cable. Stop using the door and keep clear of it. Do not touch the spring or cables. Call for service.

The 7 most common reasons a garage door won’t open

1. The remote battery is dead. If the wall button works but the remote does not, replace the remote battery first.
2. The opener has lost power. Check that the opener is plugged in, the outlet works, and the breaker or GFCI has not tripped.
3. A safety sensor is blocked or misaligned. If the opener lights blink and the door will not close, clean the sensor lenses and check that both are pointing at each other.
4. The door is locked or in manual mode. Look for a lock on the door and check whether the red emergency release cord has been pulled.
5. The track is bent or off alignment. A door that jams, shakes or hangs crooked may be off track.
6. The opener is disconnected from the door. If you hear the motor run but the door does not move, the trolley may have disengaged.
7. A spring or cable has broken. A loud bang followed by a door that feels very heavy is the classic sign.

What you can safely check yourself

Start with the simple items: replace the remote battery, confirm the opener has power, wipe the safety sensors with a soft cloth, and make sure the door is not locked. If the opener hums but the door stays put, you can try reconnecting the door to the opener using the emergency release, but only when the door is fully closed.

When to call DDS Garage Doors

Call us if the simple checks do not solve it, if you hear a loud bang, if the door looks crooked or uneven, or if the door is stuck open and you need your garage secured today. We offer emergency garage door repair across Addison and nearby suburbs, with an in-person estimate before any work begins. For everyday problems, see our garage door repair and garage door opener services.

Frequently Asked Questions