Garage Door Symptom Checker in Land O' Lakes, FL
Pick what your garage door is doing and see the likely causes, safe checks you can do yourself and when to call a technician.
Common garage door symptoms and causes
Door won't open
Likely causes:
- Broken torsion or extension spring
- Opener has no power or the lock mode is on
- Snapped or slipped lift cable
- Stripped opener gear
Safe checks:
- Look for a gap in the spring above the door.
- Check that the opener is plugged in and the wall button lights up.
- Turn off the lock or vacation mode on the wall control.
- Replace the remote battery.
When to call: Call if a spring or cable is broken or the opener hums without moving the door. See the service
Door won't close or goes back up
Likely causes:
- Photo-eye sensors misaligned, dirty or blocked
- Close force or travel limit set wrong
- Something on the floor or in the track
- Door too heavy because of a weak spring
Safe checks:
- Wipe the sensor lenses and make sure both lights are steady.
- Clear anything in the door's path.
- Hold the wall button down until the door closes. If that works, it's almost always the sensors.
When to call: Call if the sensors look fine and the door still reverses. See the service
Door stops partway or opens only a few inches
Likely causes:
- Broken spring making the door too heavy
- Travel limits out of adjustment
- Bent track or a roller catching
- Opener force set too low
Safe checks:
- Watch where it stops and look for a kink in the track or a stuck roller at that point.
- Check the springs for a gap.
When to call: Call before adjusting force settings, since turning force up hides a heavy, unsafe door. See the service
Loud bang, now the door is very heavy
Likely causes:
- A torsion spring has broken (the bang is the spring unwinding)
Safe checks:
- Look for a two-inch gap in the coils of the spring above the door.
- Don't use the opener and don't try to lift the door.
When to call: Call now. A broken spring is replaced, never repaired, and should not be DIY. See the service
Door is crooked or one side is higher
Likely causes:
- Snapped or slipped lift cable
- Broken spring on a two-spring door
- Roller out of the track
Safe checks:
- Look at both bottom corners for a loose or frayed cable.
- Stop using the door. A crooked door can come off its tracks.
When to call: Call now. Cables are under full spring tension. See the service
Rollers are out of the track
Likely causes:
- Hitting a car or object while closing
- Broken cable
- Bent or loose track
Safe checks:
- Unplug the opener and keep everyone clear of the door.
When to call: Call now. An off-track door can fall. See the service
Grinding, squeaking or rattling
Likely causes:
- Dry springs, hinges or roller bearings
- Worn steel rollers
- Loose hardware
- Worn opener chain or gear
Safe checks:
- Spray hinges, roller bearings and springs with garage door lubricant (not grease).
- Tighten loose hinge and track bolts.
When to call: Call if the noise is grinding from the opener or rollers wobble. See the service
Opener hums or runs but the door doesn't move
Likely causes:
- Broken spring
- Stripped drive gear
- Failed start capacitor
- Opener disconnected from the door (release cord pulled)
Safe checks:
- Check whether the trolley is disconnected and reconnect it.
- Look for a broken spring before running the opener again.
When to call: Call if the trolley is connected and the springs look fine. See the service
Remote doesn't work but the wall button does
Likely causes:
- Dead remote battery
- Lock mode is on
- Remote lost its programming
- Antenna damaged or blocked
Safe checks:
- Replace the battery.
- Turn off lock mode on the wall control.
- Reprogram the remote using the learn button.
When to call: Call if a new battery and reprogramming don't help. See the service
Door slams shut or falls fast
Likely causes:
- Broken or worn-out springs
- Snapped cable
Safe checks:
- Keep people and pets clear. A falling door is dangerous.
When to call: Call now and don't use the door. See the service
Door opens or closes by itself
Likely causes:
- A stuck button on a remote or wall control
- A neighbour's remote on an old fixed-code opener
- Faulty logic board or wiring short
Safe checks:
- Remove the remote batteries and see if it stops.
- Clear the opener's memory and reprogram only your remotes.
When to call: Call if it continues, especially with an older opener without rolling-code security. See the service
Light or gap under the closed door
Likely causes:
- Worn or torn bottom seal
- Uneven floor
- Close limit set too high
Safe checks:
- Look at the bottom rubber for cracks or flattening.
When to call: Call for a new bottom seal or threshold. See the service
Need a technician in Land O' Lakes, FL? Call (833) 435-8883 or book a visit online.
Garage door stuck, noisy or broken?
Talk to a garage door technician in Land O' Lakes, FL now. Tell us what the door is doing and we'll give you a price and an arrival window.