Written by American Door Works and published on https://www.americandoorworks.com/.

Anticipating garage door repair is intimidating. The costs are high and there’s no telling when you can use your garage door again. Fortunately, some common garage door repair symptoms can mean minor issues. Do you notice your garage door won’t close—or won’t close all the way? While these issues may seem severe, they’re common. A garage door that won’t shut could be the ticket to needing garage door repair. Or, you’ll only require a simple maintenance service. As the most frequently used entrance and exit in the average residential home, the garage door is subject to daily wear and tear. Consequently, a garage door is bound to have functional issues now and then. Problems are most common in the winter when power outages occur. it is best to know the most common causes of each problem and whether it is necessary to call a professional. Below are the most common reasons why garage doors don’t open or close.

4 FRUSTRATING REASONS YOUR GARAGE DOOR WON’T OPEN

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Chances are, if your garage door does not open, it may be as simple as diagnosing the problem. Once we know that, we can fix it. Taking a few minutes to troubleshoot what’s wrong can not only save you money but also time to get your garage door back in working order.

There’s a handful of reasons why your garage door won’t open. It could be something simple you can fix on your own or a bit more complex that requires an experienced service technician. Let’s talk about five of the most common culprits.

1. BATTERIES

This is the first place that I recommend to check if your garage door won’t open. It is hands down the easily overlooked items. Be sure to check the batteries among multiple transmitters, if you have multiple. Fortunately, this is a simple and inexpensive fix! Most garage door openers use a 3-volt lithium coin-cell or a single 9-volt battery. I like to recommend your garage door remote batteries are changed once a year along with your smoke detector batteries to keep them fresh and the signal strength.

Tip: if you’re unsure which type of lithium battery you need, look at the old one – the type is engraved on the front (positive) side.

2. TRACK IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT

This can turn into a serious issue if not handled properly. In order for your door to move, proper alignment on the metal track is a must. The weight of the door and repeated use while out-of-alignment can compound this issue over time. This could result in a difficult and dangerous operation. If that is the case, its best to call for help. Broken cables are common if your track is out of alignment, and one of the main reasons for a crooked door. Some indicators of a broken cable include:

– The cable is frayed or broken

– Slack in cable

– Door is crooked

– Bottom loop is rusted

3. SPRINGS ARE BROKEN

If there is a broken spring on your garage door, never try to open it. When it comes to repairs, this is the number one issue our service team receives calls about. Once a spring reaches its lifecycle, it will break. The incorrect tension this creates can cause more stress and/or damage to your garage door. To ensure the springs are being repaired properly, I recommend trusting a skilled service technician.

4. GEAR KIT IS STRIPPED/BROKEN

A gear becomes stripped as a result of the garage door is off balance. If the garage door makes a humming or grinding noise but doesn’t open, there may be one or more stripped gears. Garage doors are heavy and if there is too much strain being placed on the opener it will prohibit the garage door from opening. Shredded nylon gears are a common problem that I deal with. Replacing the gear kit will do the trick for this repair.

How to prevent issues in the future?

Having regular maintenance on your garage door can help prevent any malfunctions. If any minor issues are found, then they can be addressed before they turn into major ones. Contact professional for a regular garage door service that inspects all of the mechanical details to ensure they are running smoothly and will help correct any issues that come up now rather than be stuck with a garage door that won’t open later.

To know more about garage door check out this post: https://garageservicepros.com.au/what-to-do-if-you-damage-your-garage-door.

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