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You’re running late. You hop into your car and start opening your garage door, only to find it stops mid-way. Uh-oh… What now?

First things first, don’t panic. Garage doors and garage door openers are designed to be instantly accessible and operational, but occasional failures can still occur. The key is finding the root cause of your door’s malfunction and addressing it immediately. Here are some possible reasons why you may find your garage door not opening all the way and tips on how to fix it.

Why Does Your Garage Door Only Open Partially?

Broken springs

Broken springs are among the most common reasons for a garage door not opening all the way. Garage door springs balance the door’s weight, ensuring it opens and closes smoothly. However, factors like wear and tear, lack of maintenance, and rust can lead to the malfunction of these springs.

What to Do:

Inspect both your door’s torsion springs (usually located above the door) and extension springs (located on either side of the door tracks). Look for signs of wear, rust, or damage. Additionally, if you hear any unusual sounds like squeaking, grinding, or popping when trying to open your garage door, this may indicate a problem with the springs.

If you suspect they are broken, the last thing you want to do is try to handle them yourself – instead, call a professional garage door repair service like American Garage Door to replace them. Attempting to work on garage door springs without the necessary expertise can result in severe injuries and costly damage to your garage door and property.

Broken or Disconnected Control

If your garage door is not opening entirely, it may be because the remote control is damaged or improperly connected to the opener. One initial step to consider is replacing the battery and following the troubleshooting steps outlined in your owner’s manual.

What to Do:

The first step to consider is replacing the battery and following the troubleshooting steps outlined in your owner’s manual. If that doesn’t work, you may need to get the remote repaired or replaced.

Misaligned track

Your garage door’s alignment depends on the metal tracks located on either side of the door, which must always be straight. If you notice an uneven door that makes jerky movements or grinding noises, it may have fallen off track. 

What to Do:

Check whether the door is rolling smoothly along the track. Look for any obstructions and clean the track. However, if it seems damaged, you will need professional help to fix them.

Cable Issues

The cables in your garage door system work with the springs to lift and lower the door. They also balance the door’s weight and help keep the door aligned. If the cables in your garage door system are disengaged, they can cause your garage door opener to fail.

What to Do

Because they’re connected to the torsion springs, attempting to repair your garage door’s cables can cause dangerous incidents. That’s why any issues with the cables must be handled by a professional garage door technician. 

A stuck garage door can not only interrupt your entire routine, but also point to an issue that needs to be addressed for your garage door system to keep working smoothly. And sometimes, those issues may be too complex for you to handle on your own. 

If that’s your case, contact American Garage Door – we offer 24-hour emergency service, and our team will help you get your door back on track in no time!