Something's wrong with your garage door and you want to know what it means. Here are straight answers to the problems homeowners call us about most. When it's more than a quick fix, you'll talk directly with Larry, not a call center.
The most common cause is a broken torsion spring. The opener can't lift the door's full weight alone, so it strains, lifts a few inches, or does nothing. Other causes are a snapped cable, a tripped breaker, dead remote batteries, or the opener's lock mode being on. If the wall button works but the door won't lift, don't force it or pull the red emergency release. Call Larry at (314) 280-6182.
Most often it's the safety sensors, the two small eyes near the floor on each side of the door. If they're dirty, knocked out of line, or something is in the way, the opener refuses to close or reverses. Wipe the lenses, clear the path, and check that both sensor lights are solid. Still stuck? Call Larry at (314) 280-6182.
On most openers, a flashing light with no movement means the safety sensors are blocked or out of alignment, so the opener won't close the door. On some models it can also mean the wall control is in lock mode or the opener is reporting an error code. Check the sensors first. If the light keeps flashing, call Larry at (314) 280-6182.
A loud bang like a gunshot almost always means a torsion spring snapped. Look above the door: a broken spring shows a visible gap in the coil. Don't run the opener or pull the red emergency release, because the door is now extremely heavy and can fall. If it's stuck open, keep people and cars out from under it. Then call Larry at (314) 280-6182.
A humming motor that doesn't move the door usually means one of three things: a broken spring leaving the door too heavy to lift, a stripped drive gear inside the opener, or, on older openers, a failing motor capacitor. It can also happen if the door's manual lock is engaged. Unplug the opener so the motor doesn't burn out, then call Larry at (314) 280-6182.
We don't recommend it. Torsion springs hold enough tension to lift the entire door, and releasing that tension without the right tools and training causes serious injuries every year. A trained technician can replace springs safely and balance the door so your opener lasts longer. If a spring is broken, call Larry at (314) 280-6182.
Want more detail? Browse our garage door repair services or read our garage door tips and advice.
Describe what the door is doing and Larry will tell you honestly whether it needs a repair. Monday – Sunday, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Emergency calls accepted 24/7 by phone.
Call Larry · (314) 280-6182