Stuck Door? The Top Reasons for This Common Garage Issue

To work properly the garage door needs to seamlessly slide up and down the tracks. If something is stuck in the track or an object obstructs the door's path, it can't move up or down. While you shouldn't put your fingers, hands, or anything else into the track to determine if there's an obstruction, you can visually inspect the door from a safe distance. 

An easy-to-remove cause such as a broom that fell into the track isn't likely to require professional help. But if you can't see debris or an object in the track, the track looks bent or damaged, or you're not sure an obstruction is the problem, contact a qualified garage door contractor. The contractor has the experience and expertise to safely inspect the door and repair the problem. 

Never stand directly under the door or in its opening/closing path. The same goes for putting your hands or a tool into the track or any of the door's moving parts. A do-it-yourself repair or obstruction removal could pose a safety hazard to you or anyone else near the garage door. 

Some homeowners block the garage door track on purpose—with a lock. Even though an automatic opener effectively locks the door, you may want to add an extra layer of security to the system with a secondary locking option. 

If your door has an opener that controls a slide-type of lock or you have a manual exterior or interior (track type) lock, check the position of the security feature. A locked garage door, like every other door in your home, won't open. 

A locked garage door won't require professional attention. But if the door still won't open after you unlock it or the lock is stuck, you will need to call a contractor. 

Obstructions aren't the only track issues to stop a door from opening or closing completely. Again, a garage door needs to move freely in its tracks to work correctly. Failure to stay on the track (either partially or completely) will stop the door. If the door comes off its track it may look uneven or stick in place. 

Like other garage door problems, this issue requires professional attention. The contractor will need to inspect the door and determine whether the track is at fault or there's another issue. An off-track door poses a serious safety risk. The garage door contractor can remove the door and re-position it, repair damage, or recommend and install a replacement. 

An automatic opener requires a power supply to function. If there's no power, your garage door won't open or close. Check the power in your home or on your street to make sure there's not a community-wide or local outage. 

If the rest of your home has power, check the opener's plug. Reconnect an unplugged opener and try to use the door again. Blown or tripped fuses are also common issues that affect garage door openers. Provided neither of these easy to fix issues is at fault, it's possible the opener is worn, damaged, or has an electrical malfunction. 

A garage door contractor can repair more than the door itself. The technician will evaluate the opener, look for power-related problems, and recommend the next steps to take. 

Does your garage door need help to open or close? Contact Guaranteed Door Service, Inc., for more information.