My garage door won't close. What do I do right now?

If your garage door will not close, stop using it and check two things right now. First, look at the photo eye sensors at the bottom of each side of the door opening. They are small black boxes on the frame, usually about 4 to 6 inches up from the ground. If either one is covered with dirt or a spider web, or if something is blocking the beam between them, wipe it clean or move the object. Close the door again. If it closes, the problem is solved.

Second, check for any object in the door's path. Garage door openers have a safety feature that reverses the door if it hits something. A bicycle, a box, a car bumper, even leaves piled up can trigger this. Move anything out of the way and try again. If the door closes after you clear the path, you are done.

If both sensors are clean, the beam is clear, and nothing is in the path, your garage door will not close because of a mechanical problem. Common causes are a broken spring, a damaged cable, or a faulty opener. A broken spring means the door stays stuck. A broken cable means the same thing. A faulty opener means the motor runs but nothing moves. In any of these cases, do not force the door closed or keep trying the opener. You need a technician to diagnose it. Call (863) 592-2143 and we will be out today to look at it.

While you wait, is it safe to leave the door open? Yes, for a few hours. If you are worried about security, lock the side door or the regular entry door to your house. Close any interior doors between the garage and the house if you have them. The open garage door itself is not an immediate safety hazard, but a broken spring or cable is a repair that needs to happen soon because it makes the door heavy and difficult to move by hand if the power goes out or the opener fails.