Garage door questions
Garage Door Repair FAQ
Use these answers to identify the safest next step. Springs, cables, bottom fixtures, drums, and unstable doors should be handled cautiously because the system may remain under tension.
Common questions
Repair, safety, and troubleshooting answers.
What garage door problems do you repair?
The service covers springs, cables, rollers, tracks, openers, sensors, panels, noisy operation, and doors that will not open or close.
Should I keep using a door with a broken spring?
No. A broken spring makes the door extremely heavy and can overload the opener or create an uncontrolled movement hazard.
Can an opener lift a door with a broken spring?
It may move the door slightly, but using it can overload the opener and is not recommended.
How do I know if the spring is broken?
Look for a gap in a torsion spring, a hanging extension spring, a loud bang, or a door that suddenly became very heavy.
Why does my opener hum but not move?
Possible causes include a jammed door, broken spring, failed capacitor, stripped gear, or disconnected trolley.
Why does the door reverse near the floor?
Sensor alignment, an obstruction, travel settings, force settings, or binding hardware can trigger reversal.
Can I reconnect a loose garage door cable?
Not safely without controlling spring tension and supporting the door. Cable and drum work should be handled with the correct tools.
Why did only one cable come loose?
The door may have hit an obstruction, shifted off level, or developed a drum, spring, track, or bearing problem on one side.
Why is one garage door sensor blinking?
It usually indicates misalignment, obstruction, wiring trouble, or a failed sensor, depending on the opener brand.
Why does the door close only when I hold the button?
Many openers use constant-pressure closing when the sensor circuit is not satisfied.
Why does the garage door open only a few inches?
A broken spring, binding track, cable problem, or opener force issue can stop the door after a short movement.
Can I manually lift a door with a broken spring?
It may be extremely heavy and difficult to control. Professional assistance is safer, especially for a double door.
Why does my garage door close and then reopen?
The opener may be detecting the floor too early, sensing an obstruction, responding to misaligned sensors, or encountering mechanical resistance.
Why do the opener lights blink?
Blinking patterns often indicate a sensor or diagnostic fault. The meaning varies by brand and model.
How often should a garage door be maintained?
Usage and condition vary, but a periodic inspection and safety test is reasonable, especially when operation changes or the door becomes noisy.
Should garage door tracks be greased?
The track surface generally should be kept clean. Lubricate appropriate bearings and pivot points rather than coating the track with heavy grease.