Many homeowners feel frustrated when a garage door malfunctions. After all, it has such a simple job: to open and close when needed!
One particularly common issue of this type is when a garage door opens a little then stops. On top of being annoying, this snag can turn your door into a safety hazard. Fortunately, troubleshooting is fairly simple.
Not sure where to start with DIY repair efforts? Here are five reasons why a garage door won’t open all the way and what to do about it!
Broken Spring
Springs are the main thing that makes your garage door go up and down. If the door is malfunctioning, check the springs’ condition first. Look for broken parts, loss of tension, rust, or other signs of wear and tear.
Even if you don’t find anything, do a quick test to be sure. While the door is opening, try physically lifting it as well. If this does the trick, your springs will need adjusting to support the full door weight.
Untuned Force Limit
When it comes to garage door troubleshooting, many people forget about the technical components. One of them is the force limit, a setting on your door opener that controls how much power opening the door will take.
If the door won’t open all the way, try adjusting the force limit. Make sure to use small adjustments, as increasing the setting too much is a safety hazard. Check your owner’s manual for the exact instructions.
Sensor Intrusion
Every garage door has two sensors: a receiver and a transmitter. These two sensors need to be facing each other with no obstructions between them. Check for any objects that could mess with the signal.
It’s also possible that one of the sensors is no longer aligned. All it takes is a little bump into a sensor to disrupt the signal. If you think you’re dealing with a misaligned sensor, adjust the cameras to realign them.
Dead Opener Motor
Sometimes, the fault may lie with the garage door opener. A dead battery or a blown fuse can both cause delays in opening the door. You can tell if this is the case if your opener makes loud noises or vibrates a lot.
With some luck, resetting the door opener will bring it back up to speed. That said, this won’t do much if there’s a problem with the motor itself. In this case, your best bet is to contact a professional.
Door Track Issues
Some garage door tracks get stuck in cold weather. This happens if the metal on the track seizes up, disrupting the operation. If you live in an area known for freezing colds, consider insulating your garage to avoid this issue.
Another thing you can try is to lubricate the door track with WD-40. Make sure to spray WD-40 along the entire unlubricated track, including the moving parts like hinges.
Why Your Garage Door Opens a Little Then Stops
If your garage door opens a little then stops, the above guide may help you fix the issue on your own. Otherwise, it’s time to contact the pros.
In need of professional garage door repairs? At All-Pro Overhead Door, we offer emergency repairs at the guaranteed lowest price! Contact us here to get in touch with our expert technicians!
