Are you wondering why your garage door won’t open? You don’t want to be that person trying to get into your own house in the middle of the night. To avoid an embarrassing situation, it is better to know the reasons it won’t open in the first place. Knowing them allows you to take the necessary steps for repair or replacement.
Blockage of Photo Eye
Many garage doors from the last decade or so have a photo eye that detects if something is blocking the door from lowering completely. This device is around four to six inches off the ground with a pea-sized eye. The latter shoots a laser, if something blocks its path, it will stop sending a signal that lowers and raises the door. Damage to this will prevent your garage door from opening or closing fully.
Broken Torsion Springs
An expert on garage door spring repair cites that damaged or broken torsion springs are one of the reasons that prevent doors from opening or closing completely. One of the most obvious signs of springs breaking is a very loud noise similar to that of a gunshot or firecracker. If you hear this, avoid opening the garage door because it is dangerous.
Power Disruption
Some homeowners unplug their garage doors from the power source and forget about it. They then wonder why it won’t open or close when needed. This may sound ridiculous, but it is one of the most common reasons people can’t use their door properly. Make sure you plug it into a working outlet or check if it is working properly.
Broken Cables
When the springs break in a garage door, chances are the cables will snap as well. This happens because of the immense pressure and energy released after the break. The cables may also damage a vehicle or wall, or even seriously injure a person that passes by.
These are some of the reasons your garage door won’t open or close completely. Seek the services of a professional, if you don’t have the tools and experience to fix it on your own.