A door that will not close is a security problem as much as a repair problem, especially at night. The good news is that the most common causes are things you can check yourself in a few minutes, without tools and without touching anything under tension. Work through these in order. If you see anything on the "stop" list near the bottom, leave the door where it is and call. If your door will not open instead, use our won't open checklist.
1. Look before you press the button again
Stand back and look at the whole door. Is it hanging crooked? Is a cable loose or hanging down the side? Is there a gap in the spring above the door? Are rollers out of the track? If yes to any of these, stop here. Pressing the button again can make it worse. If everything looks normal, keep going.
2. Check the safety sensors
The two small sensors near the floor on each side of the door are the most common reason a door goes back up. Each one has a small light. If a light is off or blinking, the sensors cannot see each other. Wipe both lenses with a soft cloth, because our red dust coats them fast. Make sure nothing is in the path, like a trash can, a hose, or a bike tire. Check that neither sensor got bumped by a car, a kid, or a rake. Gently turn a bumped sensor back until both lights are steady. More detail on keypads, remotes and sensors.
3. Watch for sun on the sensors
On west facing doors, the late sun can shine straight into a sensor lens and blind it. The door closes fine in the morning and refuses at 5 PM. If that matches what you see, try again once the sun moves, or shade the sensor. If it keeps happening, a technician can move or swap the sensors so the sun is behind them.
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4. Look for something in the track or under the door
Check both tracks for anything stuck in them: a rock, a toy, a bent spot from a car bumper. Look at the bottom seal too. In summer heat, a worn rubber seal can get sticky or curl and catch on the floor. Do not try to straighten a bent track with a hammer while the door is up. If a track is bent, see off-track garage door repair.
5. Check the lock button and the remote
Many wall controls have a lock or vacation setting that stops the remotes from working. If the wall button works but the remotes do not, check for a lock light on the wall control. Then try new remote batteries. If neither works, see garage door opener repair.
6. Try holding the wall button down
On many openers, if the sensors are the problem, you can close the door by pressing and holding the wall button until the door reaches the floor. Watch the door the whole time and keep people and pets clear. If it closes this way, you know the sensors need attention. Do not leave it like that for weeks. The sensors are there to keep the door from closing on someone.
7. Close it by hand, only if the door is sound
If the door is all the way open, the springs look whole, the cables are tight, and the door is not crooked, you can pull the red release cord and lower the door by hand. Hold the handle, go slow, and keep your fingers away from the gaps between the sections. If the door feels heavy or wants to drop, stop and call. A door with a weak or broken spring can come down hard.
Call or text 435-773-8856
Tell us what the door is doing. Free estimate, no prices online.
When to stop and call
- A loud bang, or a gap in the spring above the door
- A cable loose, frayed, or off its drum
- The door hangs crooked or rollers are out of the track
- The door goes down a little, then reverses even with the sensors clean and lined up
- The door is stuck open at night and you cannot close it safely
A door stuck open overnight is a fair reason to ask for emergency garage door repair. Call or text 435-773-8856 and tell us what the door did. If a cable or spring is the cause, see garage door cable repair or garage door spring repair. For the full list of what we fix, see our page on garage door repair in St. George.
FAQ
Why does my garage door go back up when I try to close it?
Most often the safety sensors. Wipe both lenses, clear the path, and line them up until both lights are steady. If it still reverses, the close limit or force setting may need adjusting. Call 435-773-8856.
Can sunlight stop a garage door from closing?
Yes. Low sun shining into a sensor lens can blind it, so the door works in the morning and not in the late afternoon. Shading or moving the sensor usually fixes it.
How do I close my garage door if the sensors are not working?
On many openers you can press and hold the wall button until the door reaches the floor. Watch the door the whole time and get the sensors fixed soon.
Is it safe to close my garage door by hand?
Only if the springs and cables look fine and the door is not crooked. Pull the release cord, lower it slowly by the handle, and stop if it feels heavy.
Can you come out if my garage door is stuck open at night?
Request after-hours service by calling 435-773-8856. It is quoted on the call, and if we cannot come tonight, we will say so.
What happens when you call
- Call 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.