When a garage door won't open, the usual culprits are a broken spring, a disengaged opener, dead remote batteries, or the lock being engaged. Here's how to tell which one it is — and what's safe to do yourself.
Start simple. If you reach the spring step, that's a stop-and-call moment.
Try the wall button. If it works but the remote doesn't, replace the remote battery or reprogram it. If nothing works, check that the opener is plugged in and the outlet/GFCI hasn't tripped.
If the motor hums or runs but the door doesn't move, the opener may be disconnected, or a spring is broken so the door is too heavy to lift. That's your big clue.
If someone pulled the red cord, the opener is disconnected from the door. Pull the cord toward the door (or run the opener) to re-latch the trolley on the next cycle.
A manual slide lock on the door, or the wall console's lock button, will stop it. Make sure neither is engaged.
If the door is very heavy to lift by hand, won't budge, or you saw/heard a loud bang earlier, a torsion spring is almost certainly broken. Don't force the opener — it can't lift a broken-spring door and you'll burn it out.
Broken springs and cables are dangerous and the most common reason a door won't open. We carry them on every truck, 24/7 — call (940) 644-4376.
Either the opener is disconnected from the door (someone pulled the red emergency cord) or a spring is broken so the door is too heavy to lift. Re-latch the trolley; if the door is heavy, it's the spring — call a pro.
Common causes: a broken spring, a snapped cable, the lock engaged, or a dead opener. If it's heavy to lift by hand, suspect the spring and don't force it.
Carefully, by hand, it may be possible but it's heavy and dangerous — the door can drop. Don't use the opener (it can't lift it and will strain). Best to leave it and call for a same-day spring repair.
Cold can stiffen grease and shrink parts so the door binds, and it's often when a tired spring finally snaps. Check the balance and lubrication; if it's suddenly very heavy, it's likely the spring.
A heavy or stuck door usually means a broken spring or cable. Don't force it — we answer every call, day or night.