Why Your Garage Door Might Not Be Opening: 6 Common Issues and How to Fix Them
A garage door that won’t open is more than an inconvenience—it can be a serious disruption to your day. Whether you’re trying to head out for work or return home after errands, being stuck on either side of a stubborn garage door is frustrating. The good news? Most causes are easy to diagnose—and with expert help from Fireside Home Solutions, just as easy to fix.
Here are six of the most common reasons your garage door might not be opening, and how professional garage door service can restore your peace of mind.
1. Dead Remote or Wall Console Batteries
Before jumping to conclusions, check the simplest fix first: the batteries. If your garage door opener remote or wall-mounted control panel isn’t responding, fresh batteries might be all you need. Still nothing? The problem could be with your wiring or the opener unit itself.
Fireside’s technicians can quickly test and replace your components to get everything working again—no guesswork involved.
2. Misaligned or Blocked Photo Eye Sensors
Modern garage doors include safety sensors—also known as photo eyes—at the bottom of the tracks. These sensors detect obstacles in the door's path. If they’re dirty, misaligned, or blocked by debris, the system will not let the door close or open.
Our service team knows exactly how to align sensors properly and shield them from sunlight or dust, restoring full functionality and safety.
3. Broken Springs or Cables
Garage door springs do the heavy lifting behind the scenes. If one breaks, you’ll often hear a loud bang, and your door may not budge. The same goes for snapped or frayed lift cables. These parts wear out with use and should only be handled by a professional.
Fireside Home Solutions can safely replace springs and cables, recalibrate your system, and ensure balanced, smooth operation.
4. Disconnected or Manual Release Pulled
Sometimes, the fix is surprisingly simple. Your garage door opener has a manual release cord (usually red) for use during power outages. If it’s been pulled accidentally, your opener won’t engage the door.
A quick inspection from our team can verify the issue and reconnect everything correctly to restore automatic function.
5. Electrical or Power Supply Issues
If your opener is unresponsive and your lights are out too, you might be dealing with a tripped breaker, unplugged opener, or electrical fault. It’s also possible that the opener’s circuit board has failed, especially in older units.
Our certified service pros can test your opener’s power supply, inspect the wiring, and recommend upgrades if needed.
6. Damaged or Off-Track Door
A garage door that’s come off its track or has bent panels may not open at all—or worse, could get stuck halfway. Forcing the system can cause further damage and create safety hazards.
Fireside’s repair services include full track realignment, panel replacement, and expert maintenance to ensure long-term durability and safety.
Don’t Let a Garage Door Malfunction Slow You Down
No matter the cause, Fireside Home Solutions is here to help with reliable, responsive garage door service across the Pacific Northwest. From battery replacements to spring repairs and full system inspections, our expert technicians are trained to diagnose issues quickly and provide lasting solutions. We service all major brands and offer emergency repairs, too.
Schedule your garage door service today.
Trust Fireside to keep your garage door running smoothly—because when life doesn’t slow down, neither should your garage.
Why Choose Fireside Home Solutions?
Whether you're lubricating parts, replacing worn hardware, or upgrading your system, Fireside Home Solutions offers trusted, local expertise for homeowners in the Seattle and Portland areas. We provide full-service maintenance, repairs, and installations tailored to your needs. From programming your opener to complete system overhauls, we’ve got you covered.
Contact us today to learn more about our garage door solutions or to schedule your next tune-up.