Why Won’t My Garage Door Stay Closed?
A garage door failing to close is frustrating, exposes your personal belongings and allows unwanted guests and pests to get in. However, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of a garage door not staying closed.
Troubleshooting the problem and determining the best solution should be handled ASAP, so contact a professional if this is the case for you.
Common Reasons Your Garage Door Won’t Stay Closed
Fortunately, many common reasons your garage door won’t stay closed can be fixed with a few tweaks. Below, we discuss some of the top causes and how you can rectify the situation.
Dead Remote Batteries
Sometimes, the issue is as simple as dead batteries in your garage door’s remote control and door panel. If the batteries are dead, your door can open. Changing the batteries is likely all you need to do to fix the problem; if this doesn’t help, however, you may need a professional to inspect issues with your breaker box.
Damaged Garage Door Cables
Your garage door’s cables are connected to torsion and extension springs; if the cables snap, too much stress can be added to the springs. When this happens, the springs can become overloaded, causing them to break and your door to malfunction.
Lubricating the cables can help them function properly, and replacing them immediately when they’ve worn out or snapped will get your garage door back up and running.
Blocked Door Sensors
The garage door sensors are designed to prevent it from closing on obstructions. Make sure the sensors and threshold aren’t blocked by any physical items that may be causing the door to return to its opened state.
Dirt on the sensors can also trigger your door to remain open, so clean off the sensor surface to see if this is the problem.
Broken Door Springs
Your garage door opens and closes due to anti-gravity support from torsion and extension springs. If one or both of these springs is broken, your door will fail to function as intended. You need to hire a professional for repair.
Damaged Tracks
Your garage door has tracks on either side to guide the door in place as it opens and closes. If the tracks are damaged, your door won’t properly fit into place, keeping it from staying shut. Often, you’ll need a hammer to repair bent tracks; if the damage is beyond DIY repair, call a professional.
Unadjusted Travel Limit
One of the most common reasons a garage door won’t stay closed is that the travel limit setting is off-kilter; this feature is responsible for how far up and down your garage door goes, so if it’s not properly set, your garage door may fail to close completely.
Depending on the garage door you have, you can fix this problem yourself. Often, there are two screws on the unit that you can adjust with a screwdriver, but look at your specific brand’s manual or search online for the exact method needed for adjustment.
Choose Overhead Door Company of Fort Wayne for Garage Door Repair
Garage doors are important for protecting you and your belongings. If your garage door isn’t properly shutting, you need help from the Overhead Door Company of Fort Wayne professionals. Issues with your garage door can be dangerous, so work with us for prompt emergency repair. Your needs will always be our priority.
Keep your garage door in Fort Wayne working well. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.
