Garage doors enable us to enter and leave our homes quickly and conveniently, but a time may come when they don’t open at the push of a button. With all the moving parts and components that make up your door, identifying the problem can be difficult without the help of a professional. To help you troubleshoot a garage door that won’t open, here are some reasons why it may be malfunctioning and how you can fix it.

Troubleshooting an Unresponsive Garage Door

Check the Battery

The most common reason garage doors may not open is a dead remote battery. To check whether this is causing your problem, look for a small blinking light on the box that operates the chain as you push the button on your remote. If the light doesn’t blink, the signal isn’t going through, so switch the battery in the remote and try again.

Test the Connections

Loose electrical connections are another common culprit, so find the wiring that runs from the box to the manual switch. While pushing the remote button, wiggle the wires a little to see if the door opens. If it does, consider calling a garage door service to inspect the wires in your system and tighten any loose connections.

Clean the Electric Eyes

On either side of your garage door, you’ll find two small boxes a few inches off the ground. Named the electric eyes, these sensors tell the system when a person or vehicle is standing in the way. Some door models completely shut down when the beam is obstructed, which may be causing your issue. Use a clean cloth or tissue to clean the lenses of the eyes and ensure nothing is sitting in front of them. If that doesn’t work, call a professional service to check that the eyes are aligned.

If your garage door still refuses to budge, call the experts at Walter E. Williams, LLC. With over 30 years of experience serving residents around New Haven, CT, this family-owned business can perform garage door installations, maintenance, and repairs to ensure your doors are always operating smoothly. Visit their website for an overview of their services, or call (203) 488-8620 to discuss your problem with an expert technician.