Garage Door Won't Close? 7 Things to Check First

A door that opens fine but won't close is one of the most common calls we get — and one of the easiest to misdiagnose. Work through these in order; the first one solves the problem more often than any other.

1. Dirty or Misaligned Photo-Eye Sensors

The two small sensors near the bottom of the tracks have to see each other in a straight line to allow the door to close. If they're knocked out of alignment, or if the lenses are dirty, the opener will refuse to close the door as a safety precaution. In Florida, pollen and humidity buildup on the lenses is a surprisingly common culprit — wipe both lenses with a soft cloth and check that neither one has been bumped out of position.

2. Something in the Sensor Beam

A stored bike, a stack of boxes, or even a low-hanging cobweb crossing between the two sensors can trip the same safety response as a misalignment. Clear the space directly between them.

3. An Obstruction in the Track

Debris, a bent section of track, or a roller that's slipping can stop the door partway and trigger the opener's auto-reverse safety feature.

4. Remote or Keypad Issues

If the wall button closes the door but the remote or keypad doesn't, the issue is electronic, not mechanical — check batteries first, then reprogramming.

5. Opener Travel Limits Set Incorrectly

Every opener has a set "close" travel limit. If it's been knocked out of adjustment — often after a battery change or power outage — the opener may stop short of fully closing every time.

6. Opener Force Settings

If the door reverses immediately after touching the floor, the down-force sensitivity may be set too low. This needs a careful professional adjustment — set it too high and the safety reversal feature stops working properly.

7. A Failing Spring

If the door is struggling, moving unevenly, or the opener strains audibly, a weakening spring may be making the door too heavy for the opener to control safely on the way down.

When to Call a Pro

If cleaning the sensors and clearing the track doesn't solve it, the remaining causes involve opener settings or hardware that are easy to get wrong — and a door with bad safety settings is a real hazard. We handle opener diagnostics and repair across Tampa Bay, usually same-day.