A garage door that won’t open is one of the most common service calls, and the cause is usually one of a handful of things. Working through them in order can often tell you whether it’s a quick fix or something that needs a professional.
1. Check the obvious first
Dead remote batteries, an unplugged opener, or a tripped circuit breaker cause more “broken” garage doors than actual mechanical failure. Try the wall-mounted button before assuming the worst.
2. Blocked photo-eye sensors
Most openers refuse to close (and some won’t open) if the safety sensors near the bottom of the track are misaligned, dirty, or blocked. A blinking light on the opener unit usually signals a sensor issue - wipe the lenses and make sure both sensors’ lights are solid, not blinking.
3. Broken spring
If the door feels unusually heavy, won’t budge even manually, or you hear a loud bang before it stopped working, a torsion or extension spring has likely broken. This is not a DIY fix - springs are under high tension and a professional should handle replacement.
4. Broken cable or off-track door
A door that opens partway and then stops, or hangs unevenly, often has a snapped cable or has come off its track. This also requires a technician.
5. Opener motor or logic board failure
If the motor hums but the door doesn’t move, or nothing happens at all even with power confirmed, the opener itself may need repair or replacement.
If you’ve ruled out batteries, sensors, and power, it’s time to call a local repair company - trying to force a spring- or cable-related issue yourself can be dangerous.