The opener can be fine and the door can still refuse to move because of the small parts: the remote in your car, the keypad on the outside wall, the wall button, and the two safety sensors near the floor. These are some of the most common opener calls, and many of them are quick fixes.
Call 435-773-8856 and tell us what the door is doing. If the door feels heavy or you heard a bang, it is probably not a remote problem. See broken spring repair.
Remotes
Signs: One remote works and the other does not. The remote only works up close. Nothing works except the wall button.
Common causes: A dead battery. A remote that lost its programming. A worn button or cracked case. The lock or vacation setting on the wall control turned on, which blocks remotes. Interference from nearby lights or devices, including some LED bulbs.
What we do: Test the remote and the opener's receiver, check the wall control lock, reprogram remotes, and replace worn-out remotes with ones that work with your opener. If you lost a remote or sold a car with one in it, we can clear the opener's memory so the old remote stops working, then program the ones you keep.
Keypads
The keypad outside the door takes the full sun and the full dust. Buttons wear out, numbers fade, and covers crack.
Signs: The keypad lights up but the door does not move. Some buttons do not respond. It works some days and not others.
Common causes: A dead battery, since most keypads run on one. A code that got erased. Sun damage to the buttons. A keypad that lost its pairing with the opener.
What we do: Replace the battery, reprogram the code, and replace sun-damaged keypads. A keypad has to work with your opener, so we match it to the unit you have, and we show you how to change the code later.
Wall button
If the wall button does nothing but the remotes work, the button or its wire is the likely problem. If nothing works at all, check the opener's power first: the outlet, the GFCI, and the breaker. Our checklist walks through it: garage door won't open.
Safety sensors
The two small sensors near the floor on each side of the door send an invisible beam across the opening. If anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, the door stops and goes back up. It is a required safety feature, and it is why a door that will not close is so often a sensor issue.
Signs: The door starts down, then reverses. The opener light blinks. The door only closes if you hold the wall button down. One sensor light is off or blinking.
Common causes:
- Dust, red dirt, or a spider web on a lens
- A sensor bumped out of line by a bike, trash can, or broom
- Low sun shining straight into a sensor late in the day on west-facing doors
- A loose, chewed, or pinched wire
- A failed sensor
Try this first: Wipe both lenses with a soft cloth. Clear the path. Look at the small light on each sensor. Both should be steady. If one is blinking or off, gently aim it back toward the other one until the light goes steady.
What we do: Clean and align the sensors, check the wire end to end, repair damaged wiring, remount loose brackets, and replace sensors that have failed. Never bypass or remove safety sensors. A door that closes on a child, a pet, or a car is a serious risk.
If the door still will not close, work through 7 safe checks for a door that won't close.
Battery backup and app control
Some newer openers have a battery backup that runs the door during a power outage, and some connect to a phone app. A backup battery wears out after a few years, and many openers beep when it gets weak. If you want battery backup or app control, we can tell you whether your current opener supports it or whether a new opener is the better route. See garage door opener repair.
What a visit includes
- Check power, the wall control, remotes, keypad, and sensors
- Confirm the door is balanced and the springs are good, so we are not fixing the wrong thing
- Quote the repair before we start
- Program, align, repair, or replace the parts that need it
- Test the safety reverse before we leave
We do not post prices. How we quote: service fees.
Dust and sun are hard on these parts
Sensors sit near the floor, right where dust collects, so in St. George they need cleaning more often than you might think. Keypads on south and west walls bake all summer, so a faded, cracked keypad is usually sun damage, not something you did. More in the desert heat and dust guide.
Call 435-773-8856 from St. George, Washington, Ivins, Santa Clara, or Hurricane.
FAQ
Why does my garage door go back up when I try to close it?
Usually the safety sensors. Wipe both lenses, clear the path, and check that both sensor lights are steady. If it still reverses, call 435-773-8856.
Why did my garage door remote stop working?
Most often a dead battery or the lock button on the wall control. If a new battery does not fix it, the remote may need reprogramming or replacing.
Can you program a new remote or keypad to my opener?
Yes, if it is compatible with your opener. We match remotes and keypads to the unit you have.
Can I bypass the safety sensors?
No. They keep the door from closing on people, pets, and cars. If they fail, they should be repaired or replaced.
My keypad lights up but the door does not move. What is wrong?
The code may have been erased, or the keypad may have lost its pairing with the opener. A fresh battery and reprogramming fixes many of these.
What happens when you call
- Call 435-773-8856 or text 435-773-8856. Tell us your city or neighborhood.
- Describe what the door is doing. Up, down, or stuck partway. A bang, a loose cable, a dead remote. If a car is stuck inside or the house is open, say so.
- Get a free estimate and a time. We tell you what it sounds like, how the job is quoted, and the soonest a technician can come. If that is not today, we say so.
Call or text for a free estimate
Tap to call or text and tell us what the door is doing.