Your car is inside, you’re already late, and the garage door won’t budge. Before you panic, take a minute to go through a few simple checks. Many “dead” doors come back to life in seconds. If yours doesn’t, the checks below will also tell you when to stop and call for help.
Start with the easy checks
Is the opener getting power?
Look at the opener’s light. If nothing lights up when you press the wall button, check that the opener is plugged in. Then check the outlet: many garages have GFCI outlets that trip, and the reset button may be on another outlet in the garage or even outside. Also check your breaker panel.
Is the wall control locked?
Many wall buttons have a lock or vacation switch. When it’s on, remotes stop working. If the wall button works but the remotes don’t, turn the lock off.
Does the remote need a battery?
If the wall button works, try a fresh battery in the remote. If a keypad stopped working, it may also need a new battery or to be reprogrammed.
Is the door locked by hand?
Some doors have a slide lock or a handle lock on the inside. If it’s engaged, the opener can’t lift the door, and running it against the lock can damage the opener. Make sure all manual locks are open.
Is the door disconnected from the opener?
If the motor runs but the door doesn’t move, the emergency release may have been pulled. On most openers, running the opener through a cycle, or pulling the release cord toward the motor, reconnects the trolley.
Signs the problem is the door, not the opener
If the opener hums, clicks or strains but the door stays down, or the door lifts a few inches and stops, the door itself is often the problem. Watch for these signs:
- A loud bang earlier. Springs usually break with a sound like a gunshot. Look above the door: a torsion spring with a gap in it is broken.
- The door is very heavy. The springs lift most of the door’s weight. Without them, even a strong opener can’t lift it.
- A loose or hanging cable on one side of the door.
- The door is crooked or rollers have come out of the track.
If you see any of these, stop. Don’t keep pressing the button, because the opener can burn out or the door can come down unevenly. Don’t try to lift the door by hand either. Unplug the opener and call a technician.
Winter problem: the door is frozen to the floor
In Northeast Ohio, slush and snowmelt can freeze the bottom seal to the concrete overnight. The opener strains, and the seal can tear. If you suspect ice, don’t keep pressing the button. Free the seal gently, clear away snow and slush along the door line, and try again. A worn, cracked seal is more likely to freeze, so it may be time for a new bottom seal.
If the opener itself has failed
If the door moves easily by hand (with the opener disconnected and the springs intact), but the opener won’t lift it, the opener has a problem. Common causes are:
- A stripped drive gear inside the motor unit, which makes the motor hum without moving the trolley.
- A failed logic board, often after a power surge or lightning storm.
- A broken or loose chain or belt.
- Travel limit settings that need adjusting.
Most of these can be repaired. If your opener is old and noisy, a technician can also give you the price of a new one, so you can choose.
How to get your car out safely
If the springs are fine and the door is only disconnected from a dead opener, you can usually open it by hand. Close the door fully first, pull the red release cord, and lift the door slowly from the bottom handle. If it feels heavy or doesn’t stay up, lower it and don’t try again: that’s a sign of a broken spring, and a heavy door can fall. Never stand under a door that won’t stay open.
What not to do
- Don’t try to wind, loosen or replace springs yourself.
- Don’t pull on cables or loosen the bottom brackets.
- Don’t prop a heavy door open with a piece of wood.
- Don’t keep running the opener against a door that won’t move.
Need help getting your door open?
Proactive Garage Door Repair opens stuck doors and fixes the cause across Brunswick, Medina County and Northeast Ohio 24/7. 24/7, a real human answers. No AI. Technicians nearby, often at your door within 1 hour. We call you when we’re on the way. The estimate is free, and you get the exact price before any work starts. See our garage door opener repair and spring repair pages, or call (440) 876-4444.
