You’re hurrying to leave the house in the morning so you’re not late for work. You press the button on your garage door key fob only to discover that as it was going down, it suddenly stopped halfway. This common scenario causes much frustration among homeowners, but what can you do about it? Read on to learn how to fix this problem so it doesn’t happen again.
What Can Cause Your Garage Door to Only Close Halfway?
Aggravation is just one of the many emotions you might experience when you notice your garage door won’t close all the way. In most cases, this discovery occurs at the most inconvenient time, but it could be that:
- Something is blocking the sensor so that it will not close completely
- The sensors have been moved by accident and are misaligned
- The springs and/or cables on the garage door are damaged
- The tracks have become warped or bent because of accidental damage
- The travel limit (how far the door will close) is no longer set correctly
How Can You Fix This Problem?
Since several things can cause your garage door to not close properly, you may need to look at a few areas to determine where the real problem exists. A few tips to help fix this problem include:
- Look at your sensors to make sure they are properly aligned and working correctly. If they are dirty, clean them. If they’re being blocked by something, move it. If they’re misaligned, loosen one of them until they are properly aligned before tightening it so it remains in place.
- Check the tracks to see if they are bent. If so, you can use clamps or a hammer to bend the material so it allows the rollers to move effortlessly. If the rollers are the problem, use a bit of grease to keep them from sticking.
- Make sure the batteries in your garage fob are working. If it appears the fob is the problem, replace the batteries so you can close the door once you are in your car or outside your home.
- Try adjusting the screws that control the travel limit so the door will close securely instead of retracting or stopping halfway.
What Can You Do to Improve Your Garage Door?
If you want to make sure your garage door is operating at an optimal level, you can always consider replacing it with a new one or performing regular maintenance on your existing one. This means:
- Keeping all moving parts (i.e., rollers, hinges, etc.) properly lubricated
- Identify wear and tear and signs of damage as soon as possible so that you can seek a professional for help in addressing these issues
- Clean the door, sensors, and other components regularly so they continue to function normally
- Check the springs and cable to see if an adjustment is required
Keeping your garage door in working order requires knowing when something is wrong. By putting some of these tips into practice, you’ll not only be able to fix various problems if they come up, but you’ll also improve the functionality of your garage door so that your investment lasts longer.
About Adooring Designs
Since 2005, Adooring Designs has provided Fort Worth residents with exceptional products, including garage doors. Whether you’re looking to purchase a new one or find ways to better maintain the one you have, our team is here to offer recommendations, tips, and solutions so that you continue to have a functioning garage door for your home, so contact us via our website or call (817) 745-0522 if you need help getting answers as to why this particular feature won’t close all the way.