Garage doors are standard in modern homes, providing vehicle security and additional storage space. Many homeowners also rely on garage doors for quick access to their homes while keeping their properties safe from intruders. As such, when garage doors encounter issues, it can be a significant inconvenience and a cause for concern.
When your garage door fails to close properly, knowing why and how to fix it is vital. Why won’t the garage door close? Let’s find out.
How Garage Doors Work
Garage doors are large, motorized doors that allow cars and other items to enter and exit the garage. A garage door system comprises several components, including the following:
- Panels: These components make up the door using various materials in multiple styles and designs.
- Tracks: Tracks are mounted to the garage walls and guide the door as it opens or closes.
- Rollers: These components fit into tracks, allowing the door to glide up and down.
- Springs: Torsion springs provide the necessary tension to lift the door, while extension springs stretch to lift as the door opens.
- Cables: These components work with the springs for smooth and controlled movements.
- Openers: Openers activate the spring system and allow the garage door to open and close.
- Remote Control: This device allows you to operate your garage door from a distance.
- Safety Sensors: These sensors detect objects or obstacles in the garage door’s path.
How do garage doors work? When you press the remote control or wall button, the opener activates and engages the spring system, and the coordinated action of other components opens the door.
The torsion springs, which store energy when the door is closed, release it to raise the door. Extension springs expand and contract to provide similar support. As the door moves, rollers glide along the tracks. The same mechanism applies to closing the door but in reverse.
The safety sensors keep the garage doors open when they should be. The sending unit transmits an infrared beam, and the receiving unit detects it. If obstacles are in the path of the two units, the door will halt its closing operation and reverse.
The Importance of a Functional Garage Door
Every component must work in perfect harmony for a garage door to function correctly. With a properly functioning garage door, you reap the following advantages:
- Enhancing Security: A functional garage door prevents unauthorized access to your garage and, by extension, your home.
- Improving Energy Efficiency: When the door seals tightly and operates properly, it helps maintain a stable temperature in the garage and can impact the overall energy consumption of your home.
- Facilitating Convenience and Accessibility: A working garage door provides easy access to your vehicle and belongings stored within the garage.
- Ensuring Safety: A malfunctioning garage door poses significant risks, such as accidental injuries or property damage.
A garage door is like any door in your home but on a larger and more complex scale. Prioritizing its proper function is a must! Components may wear out without regular maintenance, and you’ll eventually face various problems.
Why Won’t the Garage Door Close?
One of the many signs your garage door needs attention is when it won’t close. To fix this issue, you need to identify its cause, which can be any of the following.
Faulty, Dirty, or Obstructed Sensors
If garage door sensors are faulty, misaligned, or dirty, they may mistakenly signal that something is in the way of the door, preventing it from closing. Inspect your sensors for visible dirt and gently clean the lenses to remove buildup. If the sensors appear damaged or misaligned, readjust them according to the manufacturer’s instructions or replace them if necessary. Moreover, check for objects that may actually be blocking the sensor’s line of sight and remove them.
Damaged Tracks and Rollers
When tracks are bent or misaligned, they create an uneven path that makes it difficult for the rollers to move smoothly. This misalignment may cause the door to become stuck or jump off the tracks entirely, leading to a malfunction in the closing mechanism. Additionally, worn or broken rollers can impede movement.
Check the tracks for bends, dents, or misalignments. If you find any issues, straighten or replace the damaged sections. For the rollers, look for rust or deterioration. If they appear worn out, replacing them is the best solution. Lastly, lubricate the tracks and rollers regularly to prevent friction that can cause damage.
Broken Springs
Springs counteract the weight of the door. When a spring breaks, the door can be too heavy to close, leaving it stuck partway or failing to close altogether. Besides security risks, broken springs can lead to further damage if the door attempts to work under uneven stress. Any issues with garage door springs require professional services. Springs are always under high tension, and attempting to work on them yourself can result in severe injuries.
Worn-Out Cables
Over time, cables can fray or weaken, leading to a loss of tension. Misaligned cables can also cause uneven lifting, leading to a malfunctioning door. Cable replacement is another task that is best left to professionals. Working with high-tension cables requires expertise and specialized equipment. Furthermore, trying to repair or replace the wrong cable may worsen the problem and lead to additional costs.
Dead Remote Control Batteries
Sometimes, the solution to a malfunctioning garage door is as simple as changing the batteries in the remote control. If your remote stops working, your system won’t be able to receive the signal to close the door. Try replacing the batteries in your remote before calling for professional services.
Keep Your Garage Door Working
Garage doors play many roles, so they also demand many maintenance tasks. When they don’t close, it’s a sign that they need attention. The safety sensors, tracks, rollers, springs, cables, and remote control may be the culprits, and each requires different methods to fix.
If the problem is beyond your knowledge and skills, turn to professional services for safe and effective solutions. At Doors of Pontiac, we help homeowners with all their garage door needs. From maintenance to installations, repairs, and replacements, our team of experts has got you covered. Contact us today, and let’s close that garage door!
