A broken garage door can be an unwelcome nuisance, and it is one issue that all homeowners should be ready to deal with. Here is a quick look at four of the most common reasons why a garage door won’t open and a few steps that you can take to address each of those problems.
The Sensors Are Blocked
Just inside your garage door, there should be a set of sensors near the ground. When those sensors are blocked or misaligned, the garage door won’t work at all. If the remote and keypads aren’t working, then you should immediately check the sensors. Those devices usually have small indicator lights that turn red whenever the signal is blocked. In many cases, the two sensors will lose the signal if the door tracks are bumped or jostled.
A Broken Spring
Many homeowners are surprised to hear that millions of people are injured by garage doors every year, and quite a few of those injuries are the result of broken springs. The spring is usually located at the very top of the door, and it is under an incredible amount of tension. When the spring breaks, the door is going to be completely unusable. If you are inside your home when the spring breaks, then you might hear a loud bang or thud.
Your Remote Is Damaged
Another common problem that you might run into is a damaged garage door remote. The remote is probably the culprit if the indoor and outdoor keypads are still working. Luckily, many companies sell garage remote replacement parts and pre-programmed remotes. Once you have your new remote, syncing it with your garage door’s motor should take no more than a few minutes.
The Lock Handle Has Been Turned
As an added safety feature, your garage door should have a lock handle on its inner face. When that handle is turned, two sliding bars will completely immobilize the entire unit, and the door is going to shudder whenever you try to open it. If the lock handle has been turned and you no longer have the key, then you will need to call a locksmith.
While some of these issues are very easy to take care, major repairs should always be left to the professionals. Working on a garage door can be very perilous without the proper tools, and you should never tackle any project that is going to put you in danger.
