Garage Door Stuck? Here Are A Few Things To Check

Whether you're rushing off to work or coming home after a long day, a stuck garage door can put the brakes on your plans. However, there's no need to panic. A little troubleshooting can go a long way towards getting your garage door back on the move. Here are a few solutions to try out before calling your garage door specialist.

Garage Door Remote

You can count on your garage door remote to work properly—right up to the moment it suddenly stops working. There are plenty of reasons why your garage door remote would suddenly fail, with a dead battery being the most common reason. To rule out a dead battery as the cause of your stuck garage door, simply replace it with a new battery.

If there's nothing wrong with the battery, there might be a problem with the remote itself. In most cases, the remote may need to be reprogrammed before it can be used on your garage door opener.

If reprogramming the remote doesn't work, then the remote's internal circuitry may have taken some form of damage, usually through water damage or rough handling. If all else fails, locate and use the interior open/close button to use the garage door normally.

Garage Door Opener

The garage door opener itself may be suffering some sort of issue, especially if you use the interior button and nothing happens. Lightning strikes and power surges can easily sideline your garage door opener's motor. Even years of serious wear and tear can cause the motor to stop working eventually.

First, make sure there's power being sent to the opener. Garage door openers can be unplugged by accident, so make sure it's plugged into the nearest power outlet. Check the circuit breaker box and make sure the breaker for the garage door opener hasn't been tripped.

Next, check the garage door opener for outward signs of an electrical short or power surge. Scorch marks on the garage door opener could indicate a violent electrical short. If you suspect the garage door motor burned out or shorted itself, contact your garage door specialist for a closer inspection.

The Garage Door Itself

With the garage door opener out of commission, you should be able to manually open your garage door by activating the emergency release. If your garage door still seems stuck, the problem may lie with the garage door track.

Start by checking the track for any signs of physical damage. A bent track can prevent the rollers from moving properly, causing the garage door to bind up and eventually freeze in place. Don't forget to inspect each fastener holding the track in place.

Next, check the inside of the tracks for any signs of debris. Accumulated dirt and debris can prevent smooth roller movement, leading to the same binding problems as mentioned above. Don't forget to check the rollers themselves, making sure that each roller remains perfectly round without any signs of damage or rust buildup.

For professional assistance, contact a company like Pro Overhead Door.

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