Why Your Garage Door Won’t Close: A Pro’s Troubleshooting Guide

It happens when you are already running late. You press the remote button, watch the door start to slide down, and then suddenly it stops. It reverses and goes right back up to the open position. Usually, the opener lights flash and click to mock you.

I have been fixing garage doors in Miami for over 20 years. I get this specific call at least five times a week. It is frustrating, but it is rarely a catastrophic failure. In most cases, your opener is doing exactly what it was designed to do. It thinks there is something in the way.

Before you panic or try to force the door down (please do not do that), let’s look at why this happens. I will walk you through the common culprits, from safety sensors to the intense Miami sun, and tell you how to fix them.

The Number One Culprit: Safety Sensors

If I had to bet money on why your garage door won’t close, I would put my cash on the safety eyes. These are the two little black boxes located at the bottom of your door tracks, about six inches off the ground.

These sensors shoot an invisible beam across the opening. If that beam breaks, the door assumes a child, pet, or car is in the way. It reverses immediately to prevent an accident. This system is mandatory by federal law for a good reason.

However, they are sensitive. Here is what goes wrong:

• Misalignment: If someone kicked the sensor or bumped it with a trash can, the “eyes” might not be looking at each other anymore. Check the lights on the sensors. usually, one is amber (sending) and one is green (receiving). If the green light is flickering or off, they are out of alignment.
• Dirty Lenses: We live in a dusty, humid environment. Dirt, spiderwebs, or even a stuck leaf can block the signal. Wipe them off with a soft cloth.
• Loose Wires: Check the thin wires coming out of the back. Sometimes a lizard or rodent chews them, or a weed whacker nicks them.

Fighting the Miami Sun

This is a problem specific to our sunny climate. I often see this with East or West-facing homes. At certain times of the day, usually early morning or late afternoon, the sun shines directly into the receiving sensor lens.

The sunlight is stronger than the infrared beam from the opener. It effectively blinds the sensor. The system thinks the beam is broken because it cannot “see” the signal.

If your door only refuses to close at 5:00 PM on sunny days, this is your problem. You can fix this by creating a small shade for the sensor using a piece of cardboard or toilet paper tube, or by swapping the sending and receiving sensors so the receiver points away from the sun.

Travel Limits and Force Settings

Sometimes the sensors are fine, but the door hits the floor and immediately bounces back up. This usually means your travel limits are off.

Your opener needs to know exactly how far to travel to close the door. If the setting is off by even an inch, the opener pushes the door into the concrete. The motor detects resistance, assumes it hit an obstacle, and reverses for safety.

You can adjust these limits. Older units use screws on the side of the motor unit. Newer ones use digital buttons. You want the door to seal against the weatherstripping without crushing it. If you adjust it too much, the door won’t close all the way. It takes a bit of trial and error.

Physical Obstructions and Track Issues

This sounds obvious, but you would be surprised. I once drove out to a service call in Kendall only to find a broom handle leaning against the track. The door was hitting it and reversing.

Inspect the vertical tracks. Look for:

• Debris inside the track (rocks, nuts, bolts).
• Bends or dents in the metal rails.
• Sticky rollers that aren’t spinning freely.

If the track is bent, do not try to hammer it out yourself. You might make it worse so the rollers pop out entirely. That is a dangerous situation.

Choosing the Right Garage Doors Expert in Miami

If you check the sensors and the tracks but the door still refuses to cooperate, it might be a logic board issue or internal wiring problem. That is when you need a professional.

The service industry in South Florida is competitive, but not everyone plays by the rules. When hiring a technician, verify that they carry proper insurance and licensing. I have seen too many homeowners get burned by “truck slammers” who fix a door with duct tape and charge a premium.

A real pro will be transparent about the cost. We don’t guess. We diagnose. If you need help, you can contact our garage specialists to get it done right the first time.

Safety First: When to Stop DIY

Troubleshooting sensors is safe. Wiping off a lens is safe. Adjusting a limit screw is generally safe. But there is a line you should never cross.

If you see a loose cable, a snapped spring, or a bottom bracket that looks rusty and weak, stop immediately. Do not touch it. The springs and cables are under extreme tension. They lift a 300-pound wall of steel. If a part snaps while you are tinkering with it, it can cause severe injury or property damage.

I am all for homeowners saving money on simple fixes. But knowing when to step back is the most valuable skill you can have.

Get Your Door Moving Again

A garage door that won’t close is an inconvenience, but it is usually a simple fix. Start with the sensors. Check the alignment and clean the lenses. Look for that blinding Miami sun. If those simple steps don’t resolve the issue, it might be time to call in the cavalry.

Don’t leave your home unsecured because the door won’t stay down. We can diagnose the electrical gremlins or mechanical faults quickly. Your safety and security are worth the service call.