Automatic garage door openers are a great convenience, but there may come a time when the opener malfunctions or something is wrong with the garage door mechanism. Being stuck with your garage door wide open poses a great security risk, leaving your property and belongings vulnerable.
If your garage door won’t close, here are some of the steps you should take.
Stay safe
Garage doors are heavy and can come crashing down with a lot of force if they’re not closing properly. You should especially be wary if your garage door stopped closing halfway or if it is visibly off-balance. Don’t stand underneath your garage door and use the side door to gain entry to your garage if you have one.
Check the garage door opener
It may be a fault with the garage door opener that’s preventing your door from closing. Firstly, check that your remote is working and replace its batteries. The problem may be something as simple as flat batteries. You should also check your opener to see if the disconnect switch has been activated.
Check the safety sensors
If something is blocking your garage door safety sensors, then it will not close. This is a useful safety feature to prevent people from getting hurt and items getting damaged. Make sure that nothing is physically blocking these sensors, located close to the floor on either side of your garage door opening. You should also clean these sensors as dirt and dust can also block their connection.
Close your door manually
If none of the quick solutions above help you out, then you should be able to close your garage door manually for now. This keeps your belongings safe until the garage door can be repaired. There should be a release cord hanging down from your garage door opener. Make sure everyone is clear of the door and then pull on this cord and lower the door gently.
Call a garage door repair technician
Your door might not be closing properly due to problems with your garage door springs, cables, or track alignment. These issues can be very dangerous, so it’s important to leave this kind of repair to the professionals. A garage door technician will be able to properly assess the cause of your problems and fix them safely and effectively.
If you need garage door repair or maintenance in Savannah, Georgia, then contact Action Overhead Door for our professional garage door services.