10 Garage Door Problems and How to Fix Them

Garage door problems got you stuck? Read on

 Garage and workshop with a van parked inside
Photo: Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images
 Garage and workshop with a van parked inside
Photo: Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Highlights
  • Common problems include a garage door that won’t close, won’t stay shut, or opens by itself.

  • To start troubleshooting, make sure your automatic door has working batteries and nothing is blocking the sensors.

  • It’s best to call a professional garage door company instead of trying to fix the problem yourself.

  • Garage door repairs cost $260 on average.

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Fixing a Garage Door Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Depending on the situation, there’s a chance you could temporarily fix your garage door problem until professional help arrives. Because the average garage door repair cost is about $260, it’s understandably tempting to try to fix the issue yourself.

However, it is safest to hire a garage professional to do the work. The various metal parts on the door can be sharp and may carry quite a bit of tension, especially the springs. You could severely injure yourself if a tight spring lets go at just the wrong time. The door itself is heavy, too, creating danger if it suddenly loses tension and falls.

Additionally, if you misdiagnose the problem with the door, the steps you take may not actually fix the problem, leaving you with a bigger repair bill—or a total replacement bill—soon after.

A garage professional who fixes garage doors can diagnose the problem and give you advice on whether repair or replacement is the better choice. Garage door repairs can be tricky if you’re not sure what to do, especially if fixing it involves heavy lifting or inspecting electrical components.

If you want to do something yourself to save some money, focus on doing regular maintenance, like adding lubrication and tightening loose parts. Such actions can lengthen the life span of your garage door system, meaning you can put off needing to call for repairs, saving money over the long run.

Fixing a Garage Door Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Depending on the situation, there’s a chance you could temporarily fix your garage door problem until professional help arrives. Because the average garage door repair cost is about $260, it’s understandably tempting to try to fix the issue yourself.

However, it is safest to hire a garage professional to do the work. The various metal parts on the door can be sharp and may carry quite a bit of tension, especially the springs. You could severely injure yourself if a tight spring lets go at just the wrong time. The door itself is heavy, too, creating danger if it suddenly loses tension and falls.

Additionally, if you misdiagnose the problem with the door, the steps you take may not actually fix the problem, leaving you with a bigger repair bill—or a total replacement bill—soon after.

A garage professional who fixes garage doors can diagnose the problem and give you advice on whether repair or replacement is the better choice. Garage door repairs can be tricky if you’re not sure what to do, especially if fixing it involves heavy lifting or inspecting electrical components.

If you want to do something yourself to save some money, focus on doing regular maintenance, like adding lubrication and tightening loose parts. Such actions can lengthen the life span of your garage door system, meaning you can put off needing to call for repairs, saving money over the long run.

Suburban house with the garage door open
Photo: JodiJacobson / E+ / Getty Images

Fixing a Garage Door Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Depending on the situation, there’s a chance you could temporarily fix your garage door problem until professional help arrives. Because the average garage door repair cost is about $260, it’s understandably tempting to try to fix the issue yourself.

However, it is safest to hire a garage professional to do the work. The various metal parts on the door can be sharp and may carry quite a bit of tension, especially the springs. You could severely injure yourself if a tight spring lets go at just the wrong time. The door itself is heavy, too, creating danger if it suddenly loses tension and falls.

Additionally, if you misdiagnose the problem with the door, the steps you take may not actually fix the problem, leaving you with a bigger repair bill—or a total replacement bill—soon after.

A garage professional who fixes garage doors can diagnose the problem and give you advice on whether repair or replacement is the better choice. Garage door repairs can be tricky if you’re not sure what to do, especially if fixing it involves heavy lifting or inspecting electrical components.

If you want to do something yourself to save some money, focus on doing regular maintenance, like adding lubrication and tightening loose parts. Such actions can lengthen the life span of your garage door system, meaning you can put off needing to call for repairs, saving money over the long run.

Two car garage interior with garage door closed
Photo: BanksPhotos / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Fixing a Garage Door Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Depending on the situation, there’s a chance you could temporarily fix your garage door problem until professional help arrives. Because the average garage door repair cost is about $260, it’s understandably tempting to try to fix the issue yourself.

However, it is safest to hire a garage professional to do the work. The various metal parts on the door can be sharp and may carry quite a bit of tension, especially the springs. You could severely injure yourself if a tight spring lets go at just the wrong time. The door itself is heavy, too, creating danger if it suddenly loses tension and falls.

Additionally, if you misdiagnose the problem with the door, the steps you take may not actually fix the problem, leaving you with a bigger repair bill—or a total replacement bill—soon after.

A garage professional who fixes garage doors can diagnose the problem and give you advice on whether repair or replacement is the better choice. Garage door repairs can be tricky if you’re not sure what to do, especially if fixing it involves heavy lifting or inspecting electrical components.

If you want to do something yourself to save some money, focus on doing regular maintenance, like adding lubrication and tightening loose parts. Such actions can lengthen the life span of your garage door system, meaning you can put off needing to call for repairs, saving money over the long run.

Angi Tip

Most garage doors have an emergency cord you can pull when you lose power. The cord is located above you, where the track leads to the motor. Once you pull this cord, you can open your door manually. For safety reasons, it's important you only pull this cord when the garage door is closed.

Morgan Rousseau
Content Editor, Angi

Fixing a Garage Door Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Depending on the situation, there’s a chance you could temporarily fix your garage door problem until professional help arrives. Because the average garage door repair cost is about $260, it’s understandably tempting to try to fix the issue yourself.

However, it is safest to hire a garage professional to do the work. The various metal parts on the door can be sharp and may carry quite a bit of tension, especially the springs. You could severely injure yourself if a tight spring lets go at just the wrong time. The door itself is heavy, too, creating danger if it suddenly loses tension and falls.

Additionally, if you misdiagnose the problem with the door, the steps you take may not actually fix the problem, leaving you with a bigger repair bill—or a total replacement bill—soon after.

A garage professional who fixes garage doors can diagnose the problem and give you advice on whether repair or replacement is the better choice. Garage door repairs can be tricky if you’re not sure what to do, especially if fixing it involves heavy lifting or inspecting electrical components.

If you want to do something yourself to save some money, focus on doing regular maintenance, like adding lubrication and tightening loose parts. Such actions can lengthen the life span of your garage door system, meaning you can put off needing to call for repairs, saving money over the long run.

Fixing a Garage Door Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Depending on the situation, there’s a chance you could temporarily fix your garage door problem until professional help arrives. Because the average garage door repair cost is about $260, it’s understandably tempting to try to fix the issue yourself.

However, it is safest to hire a garage professional to do the work. The various metal parts on the door can be sharp and may carry quite a bit of tension, especially the springs. You could severely injure yourself if a tight spring lets go at just the wrong time. The door itself is heavy, too, creating danger if it suddenly loses tension and falls.

Additionally, if you misdiagnose the problem with the door, the steps you take may not actually fix the problem, leaving you with a bigger repair bill—or a total replacement bill—soon after.

A garage professional who fixes garage doors can diagnose the problem and give you advice on whether repair or replacement is the better choice. Garage door repairs can be tricky if you’re not sure what to do, especially if fixing it involves heavy lifting or inspecting electrical components.

If you want to do something yourself to save some money, focus on doing regular maintenance, like adding lubrication and tightening loose parts. Such actions can lengthen the life span of your garage door system, meaning you can put off needing to call for repairs, saving money over the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

If your garage door isn’t opening or closing properly, the problem could stem from misaligned sensors, broken springs, track obstructions, or a malfunctioning opener. Safety sensors are a common culprit—if they’re dirty or misaligned, the door won’t close. Worn-out springs or cables, as well as track damage or debris can cause it to get stuck. If the opener is unresponsive or erratic, the issue might be electrical, requiring a reset or component replacement.

Start by checking the basics: Ensure the opener is plugged in, the circuit breaker isn’t tripped, and the remote has fresh batteries. If the opener runs but the door doesn’t move, the issue could be with the motor, drive gear, or limit settings. If the door reverses unexpectedly, misaligned safety sensors or a sensitivity issue could be to blame. Grinding noises usually indicate worn-out gears, while a completely unresponsive opener might have a wiring or logic board failure.

Broken garage door springs are the most common repair since they take the most wear and tear. Springs counterbalance the door’s weight, and when they snap, the door won’t open properly or at all. Torsion springs last around 10,000 cycles, but once they wear out, they need to be replaced by a professional since they’re under high tension and can be dangerous to handle.

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