One of the most frustrating issues with garage doors is when they stop opening and closing properly. If you can't get your garage door to open correctly, here are some things to try.

Open and Close it Manually

Sometimes, opening the door manually and closing it is enough to reset the garage door system. It could be that there was an error with your garage door programming, and in a momentary glitch, it malfunctioned.

Restart or Reprogram the Garage Door

If you still have the manual for your garage door, it may be that you can easily reprogram the door. Resetting the system is sometimes enough to correct errors in programming. For instance, the close limits of your door might have gotten messed up somehow, so the door thinks it's closed when it's actually open or vice versa.

Check the Condition of the Photo Eye

Another issue to troubleshoot is whether the photo eye is working correctly. If not, your door's garage door opener might not be getting the correct signal on whether the door is up or down currently. The photo eye can behave incorrectly if it's so dirty that the photo lens cannot receive a signal. An invisible laser travels between the photo eye from one side of the door opening to the other, so the photo eye must be intact (and not cracked); otherwise, the laser signal could be reflected in a different direction and not hit its receiver.

Check the Condition of the Garage Door Opener

There are many different garage door opener systems, and some are more prone to breaking than others, If you have a chain drive, check the condition of the chain to make sure there aren't any broken or detached links. Check that the rubber belt is sturdy on a belt drive. Make sure your motor is working correctly if you operate a direct drive garage door opener.

Call a Garage Door Repair Specialist

If you've run through these options and can't find an immediate fix for your garage door issue, then it's time to call a garage door repair specialist from a company like AAA Garage Door, Inc. They will see if the garage door can be restored to functionality with a single part, or whether the entire door needs to be repaired. At the same time, it's a good opportunity to check on new garage door technologies such as more efficient garage door openers and better storm proofing options.