Problem
Garage door won't open
Work through these in order. The first three take a few minutes and need no tools. If you reach the last one, stop and call.
Your call goes to an independent garage door contractor.
Checks in order
Power
Try a lamp in the opener's outlet. Garage outlets are often on a safety reset, so press the reset button if it has tripped. If the whole house is out, use the release cord.
The controls
Try the wall button. If that works and the remote doesn't, change the remote's battery. A lock button on the wall control can also shut the remotes off.
The door's own lock
Some doors have a slide bolt or a handle lock on the inside. Make sure nobody has thrown it.
A motor that runs with no movement
Someone may have pulled the release cord, which disconnects the door from the opener. The manual shows how to reconnect it. If the cord wasn't touched, the opener's gear may have worn out.
A door that lifts an inch or two and stops
Stop pressing the button. This usually means a broken spring.
On a cold morning
Meltwater can freeze the rubber seal to the floor overnight. If the door strains and won't come up, stop the opener and look along the bottom edge. Forcing it can tear the seal or bend a panel. The winter guide says how to clear it.
What to leave alone
- Don't lever the door with a pry bar, or lift a heavy door by one corner.
- Don't stand under a door that's open and stuck.
- If your car is inside, tell the contractor when you call. Don't try to raise a door with a broken spring to get it out.
Need someone to look at the door?
Call this number to reach an independent contractor. Say what the door is doing, whether it is stuck open or shut, and what happened just before it stopped.