If you have a garage door, there is a good chance you have dealt with this problem in the past – your garage door not opening when you activate your garage door opener. While it can be frustrating, there is usually a logical explanation for this problem. Keep reading to learn some of the most common reasons your garage door opener will not open your garage door.
So if you’ve asked yourself “why is my garage door not opening”, let’s find out the most common reasons why this happens to Kansas City home and business owners in our metro area and around the country.
The Garage Door Photo Eye is Blocked
If your garage door opener has been installed within the last two decades, it likely has a photo eye that will detect if something is in the way of the door. This is a safety feature that helps prevent the door from closing on a person, pet, vehicle or anything else.
This photo-eye is located four to six inches off of the ground and the lens is the diameter of a pea. The invisible light in between these lens shoots across your garage from eye to eye, and when interrupted, the door won’t close. Make sure nothing is blocking this beam. Also, check to see if it has been damaged or is dirty. Cleaning the sensor may be enough to restore proper function to your garage door.
The Garage Door Opener Isn’t Plugged In
While this issue may seem pretty obvious, it is a common problem. In fact, it is one of the most common issues that garage door openers fail. Be sure to check this before moving forward with any other troubleshooting steps.
Broken Garage Door Torsion Springs
If the torsion springs break, your door won’t move. If this happens, you will likely know it since it sounds like a gunshot or firecracker has gone off in your garage.
Garge Door Torsion Springs are rated for a certain number of cycles and are one of the first things that will break in the garage door assembly. If you are dealing with a broken spring, do not try to open the door, as this can create a dangerous situation. Also, don’t try to fix it on your own. Instead, call the professionals for help.
The Garage Door Is Off-Track
If a roller on your garage door moves off the tracks, then the opener will not be able to move the door. Sometimes, this issue occurs if a heavier item accidentally hits the track or if it has become bent outward. This will let the rollers slip out of position.
If this happens, it may be possible to disconnect your opener and open the door by hand. While doing this, try to move the rollers back into the tracks. Once the door is fully opened, use a mallet to move the tracks back into the proper position. If this works, you should be able to reconnect the opener and restore proper function to the door.
Call the Kansas City Garage Door Professionals for Additional Assistance
When it comes to your garage door, you must ensure you take action if it is not working correctly. That is because working on a garage door can be dangerous. If you need help with the repairs, be sure to call the professionals at Team Taylor!
