Garage Door Stuck With a Running Opener? Here's Why

It's not a common problem, but it does happen from time to time. A homeowner in Loveland will try to open the garage door, and although the motor can be heard humming away, the door doesn't move. So what gives? How can the garage door opener be running, but the door doesn't open? This problem has several possible causes, and in this guide, the team at C & M Garage Doors will take you through them one at a time.

Garage Door Won't Open Despite the Opener Running? Here’s Why

We sometimes get garage door repair calls from customers who tell us their opener is running, but their door isn't moving. That would be understandable if the opener was silent and the door wasn't moving. But how can the opener be whirring away, but the door doesn't move? One of the following eight reasons is likely to blame.

Reason 1: The Door is Locked

This is probably the most common reason a garage door doesn't open even though the opener is engaged. Family members don't always communicate perfectly with one another, and it's possible that one decided to engage the bolt lock on the door without telling anyone else. The next family member then attempts to exit the garage and nothing happens. If the door doesn't move, turn it off quickly and check to see if the bolt lock is engaged. If it is, release it, and your problem is solved.

Reason 2: Broken Spring

Contrary to popular belief, the opener does not open a garage door. The opener sets things in motion and then regulates the door's movement to ensure smoothness. So if the opener doesn't open the door, what does? The springs.

A garage door will either have two torsion springs tucked into the space directly above the door or two extension springs that run parallel to the tracks and frame the opener. The opener cannot lift the door if one or both of these springs are broken.

Whatever you do, don't try to repair garage door springs by yourself. The force coiled up in these springs is huge, and one mistake could produce serious injury or worse. Always contact the team at C & M Garage Doors to perform repair work on garage door springs.

Reason 3: The Door is Too Heavy

If the door has worked fine until now, the notion that it is suddenly too heavy for the opener doesn't make much sense. But let's say, for instance, that you added insulation to the inside of the door panels. That added weight could prevent the door from opening. Likewise, if you recently changed the door but kept the same garage door opener, it may not have been designed to lift the weight of the new door.

Reason 4: Snapped Cable

The springs transfer their energy to the pulley/cable system, which pulls the door upward. If a cable is broken, that power transfer is broken, and the door will likely refuse to open. But it's not just broken cables that can cause a door to sit motionless. Loose cables that don't effectively transfer energy to the door can also result in a motionless garage door. If you notice a snapped or loose cable on your door, call C & M immediately.

Reason 5: Problems With the Tracks

The door won't go anywhere if the tracks it rides on are damaged or clogged with dirt or other debris. The door is attached to the tracks through rollers protruding from the sides of the door panels. The door will stop if these rollers cannot move through the tracks. Simple at that.

The reasons for this kind of impediment include a track being hit by a car, debris accumulating in the tracks over time, and broken rollers. If your door isn't moving, shut off the opener and inspect the tracks.

Reason 6: The Emergency Release is Jammed

Many people are unaware that their overhead garage door has an emergency release mechanism. But it does. It's above the center of the door and is accessed by a pull handle hanging down. Sometimes, this mechanism can become jammed, preventing the door from opening like it should. This can be a difficult cause to diagnose so it's best to call C & M and let one of our highly trained technicians have a look.

Watch this video to learn more about the emergency release lock.

Reason 7: The Opener Chain is Too Tight

The garage door chain will often be set too tight during self-installation. Because it's fighting against the chain, it becomes difficult for the opener to generate enough force to operate the door.

You may not notice this problem right away. It may take time for the excessive pressure to cause the gear that moves the chain to wear down. However, once it does wear down, it will spin in place without engaging the chain, and the door will sit motionless.

Reason 8: The Door is Old

It's unfortunate that everything wears down over time, including your garage door. If the door is 5 or 10 years old, the motor might not generate as much power as it did when it was first installed. Either that or the various parts have run down, and the power cannot be transferred efficiently from the motor to the chain and onto the door. It is possible, however, to adjust the amount of power generated by the door, but we would not advise trying it yourself. You might wind up doing more harm than good. A better idea is to call C & M Garage Doors and let us have a look.

If You Need Help With Your Overhead Garage Door in Loveland, Call C & M

Today's garage door technology is leaps and bounds ahead of where it was just 20 or 30 years ago. However, like all complex devices, the garage door may experience technical trouble from time to time. If you tried to open your door and the motor engaged but the door stayed shut, it's time to call C & M Garage Doors at (970) 663-7335 and ask about our expert garage door repair services.

We'll diagnose the problem quickly and have your garage door back in prime working condition in no time flat. But we can't help unless you get in touch. So, pick up the phone and call today.