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Garage door won't open or close? Start here

Pick what's happening and get the likely cause, what's safe to check yourself, and when to stop and call a technician. Answers come from the opener and door makers' own manuals and federal safety rules.

Last checked October 9, 2026 against official sources

Garage door troubleshooter

What's happening?

Broken springs

Springs do the lifting; the opener only guides the door. A torsion spring sits on a bar above the door and twists; extension springs run beside the tracks and stretch.(Clopay)

  • Signs: a loud bang like a firecracker, a gap in a torsion spring's coil, a door that suddenly feels much heavier or tilts, or an opener that strains or hums and stops.(Genie)
  • What to do: don't operate the door, by opener or by hand, until a technician replaces the spring.(DASMA)
  • Why not do it yourself: springs, cables and bottom brackets are under extreme tension. Opener makers say never loosen or adjust them, and the federal opener rule's required warnings reserve spring and cable repair for a qualified service person.(16 CFR 1211)
  • Life span: Clopay puts most springs at 7 to 10 years, about 10,000 cycles. Rust, the wrong spring for the door, and added weight shorten it.(DASMA) On a two-spring door, replace both.
  • Extension springs need a safety cable through the middle so a broken spring can't fly across the garage. If yours don't have one, have them inspected.(DASMA)

Monthly safety tests

Every opener made since 1993 must reverse when it hits something and have a second safety layer, usually the photo-eye sensors near the floor.(16 CFR 1211) Test both monthly:(CPSC)

  1. Reverse test: lay a 2x4 flat under the middle of the door and close it. It should reverse within 2 seconds of hitting the board.
  2. Sensor test: start closing the door and pass something through the beam. It should stop and go back up.
  3. Sensor height: the sensors should sit 4 to 6 inches off the floor, so a child or pet can't slip under the beam.

If the door fails either test, disconnect the opener until it's adjusted, repaired or replaced. An opener with no reverse feature should be replaced.

Opening it by hand

  • Pull the red release cord only with the door closed and the doorway clear. With the door open, weak or broken springs can let it fall.(LiftMaster)
  • Lift by the handle or gripping points, never the joints between panels, and don't pull the door with the release rope.
  • Don't open it by hand if it's very heavy, drops fast, won't stay open, or has broken springs, cables or rollers.(Chamberlain)
  • From outside, there's no way in during an outage without a keyed release on the door, a separate entry door, or a battery-backup opener.(Genie)

Maintenance

  • Monthly: run the two safety tests, and look over hinges, rollers, springs and cables for wear.(DASMA)
  • Balance test: with the door closed, pull the release and lift it by hand. It should move smoothly and stay put 3 to 4 feet off the floor. If it drifts or binds, call a technician. A stronger opener doesn't fix an unbalanced door.(DASMA)
  • Yearly: oil rollers, bearings and hinges; don't grease the tracks. Test the backup battery, if your opener has one, and replace it every year or two.(LiftMaster) DASMA also recommends a yearly visit from a trained technician.

Permits for a new garage door

  • Madison: the City's chart says replacing a door needs a building permit, but it doesn't list overhead garage doors separately. Ask Building Inspection (608-266-4551).(City of Madison)
  • Sun Prairie, Fitchburg and Verona require a permit to replace a door, even in the same opening; Sun Prairie and Verona charge $75. None names garage doors separately.
  • Maple Bluff: a same-size garage door replacement needs Zoning Administrator approval before the building permit.
  • Under Wisconsin's home improvement rule, the company must tell you which permits are needed before you sign, and can't start until they're issued.(ATCP 110)

Town-by-town rules for other projects are in the remodel permit guide.

Hiring a garage door company in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's home improvement rule (ATCP 110) covers repair and replacement work on homes and garages:(ATCP 110)

  • If you pay anything before the work is done, you need a written contract listing the work, the parts (make, model, size), the total price, dates and warranty, and a copy before work starts. Changes have to be in writing too.
  • You get a copy of every written warranty, including spring and opener warranties.
  • It's illegal for a company to falsely tell you your existing equipment is dangerous or needs replacing. A second opinion before replacing an opener or a whole door is reasonable.
  • For a contract over $25 signed at your home, you have three business days to cancel.(DATCP)
  • Check a company's complaint history with DATCP's Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128, and ask for a certificate of insurance that lists you as the holder.

Questions

Is a broken garage door spring an emergency?

It's a stop-using-it problem. Door makers and DASMA say not to operate a door with a broken spring, not even by hand, and to have a technician replace it. If your car is inside, it stays there until the spring is fixed.

How long do garage door springs last?

Clopay, a door maker, says most last 7 to 10 years, or about 10,000 open-and-close cycles, and that an average door cycles about 1,500 times a year. Heavier-duty springs rated 25,000 to 100,000 cycles exist for busy doors. On a two-spring door, DASMA recommends replacing both.

Why won't my garage door close when the lights blink?

On LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers, blinking lights usually mean the safety sensors near the floor are blocked or out of line. Clear the beam and aim them until both lights glow steady. Sun shining into a sensor can do it too.

How do I open my garage door when the power is out?

With the door closed and the springs intact, pull the red emergency release cord and lift the door by hand. Don't pull the release with the door open, because weak springs can let it drop. If the door is too heavy to lift, call a technician.

How often should I test my garage door opener?

Monthly. Lay a 2x4 flat under the door and close it: it should reverse when it hits the board. Then pass something through the sensor beam while it closes: it should go back up. If either test fails, stop using the opener until it's fixed.

Do I need a permit to replace a garage door in Madison?

Madison's permit chart says replacing a door needs a permit but doesn't list overhead garage doors separately, so ask Building Inspection. In Maple Bluff, a same-size garage door replacement needs Zoning Administrator approval before the building permit.