Garage Door Won’t Close: Complete Troubleshooting Guide & Solutions

You’ve just got home from a long day of work and hit the button to close your garage door so you can enjoy the rest of your day. The garage door, however, won’t close. It’s not a fun feeling, and certainly a scream is justified, but take a deep breath. 

There are myriad reasons – obstructions, broken sensors or switch issues among them – for why a garage door won’t close, and in this guide we’ll walk you through a process to identify the issue and take the appropriate action. 

If you don’t feel comfortable with doing any of the steps below yourself, call Garage.com 24 hours a day, seven days a week to connect with a top-rated company that can come out, diagnose and fix any garage door issue you may encounter.

Quick Checks: The Most Common Reasons Your Garage Door Won’t Close

Before you turn to the professionals to deal with any complicated issues, there are a few steps you can take to try and fix the issue.

Track and Roller Issues Preventing Proper Closing

A garage door’s track and roller system is how the door moves, and over time issues can arise that will make its performance lag. It could be as simple as needing to be lubricated or debris being cleared away. Or it could be a bent track that requires replacement. 

Most important for both of these concerns is schedule maintenance in the form of a garage door tune-up once or twice a year can help identify potential issues early and get them handled before they become a bigger deal.

Signs of Track Misalignment or Damage

If the track is misaligned or damaged, a clear sign of it would be if the garage door is jerky or wobbles as it opens or closes. The track could be damaged or warped over time or due to nature, or it could be loose. You can check this visually first before deciding how to proceed.

Roller Problems and Lubrication Needs

Rollers are essential as the guides along the track. They too, however, can become worn or broken over time and need repair. Just as with a track issue, wobbly or jerky movements as your garage door opens and closes are signs. You also can look into lubricating the rollers to ensure smooth movement.

Limit Switch and Travel Settings Adjustments

A limit switch, like its name suggests, is a component of the garage door that controls the amount of movement a garage door will travel during opening and closing.

Identifying Incorrect Travel Limits

If your garage door won’t close all the way to the ground, it might be because the close-limit switch is incorrect and needs adjustment. If that is the case, your door will continue closing prematurely as the switch tells the opener when to stop. 

Step-by-Step Limit Switch Adjustment Process

If you would like, there is a way to adjust the limit switch on your own. Close the door as you normally would and, using a measuring tape, measure the amount of space – in inches – between the bottom of the door and the ground.

How you change the limit switch setting should be found in your manual, as they are not the same for all opener brands. However, most modern garage doors have a screw setting that can adjust the switch. Check your manual for any variance first, but for most screws one full rotation equals three inches of change. With a flathead screwdriver, turn the screw counterclockwise the right amount based on how far your garage door was off the ground.

Opener Motor and Drive Mechanism Issues

Automatic garage doors run on motors, and like all electronics, it’s possible for them to malfunction – especially in warm weather with extensive usage.

Signs of Motor Overheating and Overload Protection

Overheating of your garage door motor is more likely with overuse in extremely hot weather conditions. It is recommended to not use your garage more than once every 15 or 30 minutes in hot weather or the system will shut itself down to cool off. That is called thermal overload protection, and it kicks in to automatically shut off power in those situations. If that happens, just wait and let the garage door motor cool off for at least 30 minutes before you try to use it again.

Drive Belt, Chain, or Screw Mechanism Problems

Another possible issue with a garage door is the drive belt or chain being loose or broken. If it’s a newer chain and there is a slight sag in the line, it could be the tensioner needs a slight adjustment, which can be done with an open end wrench or pliers. If the sag is more pronounced, it could be a sprocket or trolley issue.

Weather-Related Closing Problems

Blame it on the rain … or the cold … or the heat. It’s possible one or all of them is impacting the performance of your garage door. 

Cold Weather Impacts on Closing Mechanisms

Metal contracts in cold weather, so it’s possible your cables, springs or tracks could be affected by prolonged exposure to freezing or near-freezing temperatures.Parts can also freeze, and then your motor will strain trying to move the door with uncooperative components. Moisture can also freeze over the sensors, and it’s possible your weather stripping could be damaged by extreme cold that leads to a poor seal.

Hot Weather Impacts on Closing Mechanisms

While metal contracts in cold weather, it expands in warm weather. In doing so, it can throw your tracks, springs and rollers off-kilter and cause issues. Lubrication of components can also break down in hot weather and affect garage door performance. 

Humidity and Moisture Effects on Door Components

Metal parts of your garage door can rust or corrode if exposed to too much moisture over time. Rust will cause your garage door components to deteriorate faster and possibly lead to a breakdown. 

If you have a wooden garage door and it’s exposed to a lot of moisture, it could warp or swell and therefore not fit in the frame any longer. Moisture or humidity exposure can potentially short-circuit wires and other electrical components

Protecting Your Door Against Weather

There are a few steps you can take to help stave off potential weather concerns for your door. Insulating your garage door, checking the integrity of your weather stripping and regular garage door tune-ups are also helpful to maintaining the performance and longevity of your system.

Electrical and Wiring Troubleshooting

Electrical and wiring issues are something that can easily be visually inspected, but it’s understandable if you are wary of actually fixing the issue. 

Checking for Loose or Damaged Wiring

Most modern garage doors have wires from the sensor that will run from the sides of the garage door and across the ceiling to the opener. You can investigate if the wires are still connected at each end and tighten them if you feel inclined.

Circuit Board and Logic Board Issues

The circuit board and logic board operate the garage door motor and its functions. If the wires all look okay, and no other issues can be seen, it’s possible the circuit and logic board are faulty.

Before you fix a circuit or logic board, if you choose to do so yourself, make sure to disconnect the power source to avoid a nasty shock. 

When to Call a Professional Garage Door Technician

No home owner relishes calling a technician if there is a chance to complete the fixes themselves. This also depends on your comfort level of doing it yourself. While there are some garage door repairs that can easily be rectified by you, there are others you might want to leave to the professionals.

Issues That Require Professional Expertise

Broken springs or cables is absolutely something we recommend leaving to the professionals. These components deal with high tension and can be dangerous if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. The same can be said for off-track or uneven doors. 

Choosing a Qualified Garage Door Repair Service

It is important you choose a reputable company for your garage door repair. You’ll want to ensure they are licensed and certified to do the work. 

In working with a company, they should have no problem answering any and all questions you might have about your garage door and the right steps to take to fix any issues. They also should be transparent in how much the repairs will cost before they do any work.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Doors That Won’t Close