San Marcos, Texas · Hays County · 78666
Garage Door Won’t Open? Causes & Fixes
Pressed the button and nothing — or the opener hums, the door lifts a few inches and stops? Here are the most common reasons a garage door won’t open, what you can safely check, and when it’s time to call for help in San Marcos.
Start here
First: did you hear a loud bang?
If you heard a bang from the garage and now the door won’t open, a spring has almost certainly broken. Stop pressing the opener — it can’t lift the door’s full weight and will strip its gear trying.
Look at the spring on the bar above the door. A clear gap between the coils confirms it. This is a job for a technician.
Causes
Seven reasons a garage door won’t open
Most common
Broken spring
The door won’t lift or rises a few inches and stops. The opener may hum or strain.
Easy check
No power to the opener
A tripped GFCI outlet, unplugged cord or power outage. If the opener light won’t come on, start here.
Easy check
Lock button is on
Many wall controls have a lock or vacation button. Remotes and keypads won’t work until it’s off.
Easy check
Dead remote batteries
If the wall button works but the remote doesn’t, replace the battery or reprogram the remote.
Opener
Stripped gear or trolley
The motor runs but the door doesn’t move. Common on older chain-drive openers.
Door
Snapped cable or off track
The door lifts crooked or jams. Stop using it to avoid bending panels.
Opener
Disconnected trolley
If someone pulled the emergency release, the opener runs but the door stays put. Run the opener once to reconnect.
Safe checks
What you can safely check
- Is the opener light working? If not, check the outlet and breaker.
- Is the lock button on the wall control switched off?
- Does the wall button work even if the remote doesn’t? Replace the remote battery.
- Is the emergency release cord pulled? Run the opener to re-engage the trolley.
- Is there a gap in the spring above the door? If so, stop and call.
Car stuck?
If your car is trapped inside
If the door is fully closed and the springs are intact, you can pull the emergency release and lift the door by hand. If the door feels very heavy or a spring is broken, don’t lift it — it can drop suddenly. Call us; getting the door open safely is part of the job.
FAQ
Garage door won’t open FAQ
Why won’t my garage door open but the opener runs?
Usually a broken spring, a stripped drive gear or a disconnected trolley. Check for a gap in the spring above the door first.
Why does my garage door only open a few inches?
Most often a broken spring: the opener senses the extra weight and stops. Worn force settings or a binding track can also cause it.
Can I open my garage door manually if the spring is broken?
It isn’t safe. Without the spring, the door can weigh well over 100 pounds and drop suddenly. Call a technician.
How much does it cost to fix a garage door that won’t open?
It depends on the cause: a spring typically costs $150–$350, an opener gear $100–$250, and simple fixes like a remote or outlet cost little or nothing.
Related
Related help
Door won’t open? Get a straight answer.
Call and tell us what the door is doing. We’ll tell you what’s likely wrong and what it usually costs.
No obligation. Written quote before any work.