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If your garage door won’t close, you may not need an expensive service call. In many cases, the problem is related to the safety sensors near the bottom of the door. Before calling a professional, try these troubleshooting steps:
1. Check for obstructions. Look for trash cans, stored items, dirt, leaves or spiderwebs blocking either sensor. Even a small obstruction can cause the opener to reverse the door as a safety precaution.
2. Inspect the sensor alignment. A sensor may have been bumped slightly out of position, so make sure both sensors face each other and check their indicator lights. Depending on the model, a blinking or unlit light may indicate misalignment.
3. Examine the door itself. Confirm that the door appears level and remains properly seated in its tracks. Don’t attempt to operate it if it looks crooked, has come off the tracks, or has a damaged spring or cable. If the door appears intact, use the emergency release to disconnect the opener and carefully close it by hand. Never stand beneath the door, and stop if it feels unusually heavy or difficult to control.
Some garage door openers allow you to close the door by continuously holding the interior wall button, but this overrides the safety sensors and should only be used temporarily when the doorway is completely clear. If these steps don’t resolve the problem, contact a garage door professional.