Garage Door Opener Not Working? 7 Things to Check Before You Call

You press the button and nothing happens. Or the door starts down, then pops right back up. Before you assume the worst, there are a few simple things you can check yourself. Many opener problems turn out to have an easy fix.

1. Check the Power

Make sure the opener is plugged in and the outlet is working. Try plugging in a lamp or phone charger. If the outlet is dead, check your breaker panel or any GFCI outlet in the garage that may have tripped. After a summer thunderstorm on the Grand Strand, a tripped GFCI is a very common culprit.

2. Replace the Remote Battery

If the wall button works but the remote does not, start with a fresh battery. If that does not help, the remote may need to be reprogrammed.

3. Look at the Safety Sensors

The two small sensors near the floor on each side of the door are the most common reason a door reverses before it closes. Check that:

• Nothing is blocking the path between them, including leaves, sand, boxes or a trash can
• The lenses are clean
• Both indicator lights are steady, not blinking
• Neither sensor has been bumped out of line

Gently wipe the lenses and line the sensors up so they face each other. In many cases that solves it.

4. Make Sure the Lock Feature Is Off

Many wall controls have a lock or vacation button that disables remotes. If the wall button works but every remote has stopped, check for a lock light or symbol on the wall control.

5. Check the Manual Release

If someone pulled the red emergency release cord, the opener will run but the door will not move. Running the opener once through a full cycle often reconnects it, but if you are not sure, give us a call.

6. Listen to the Opener

A humming sound with no movement can point to a worn drive gear or a door that is too heavy for the opener to lift, which usually means a broken spring. Clicking with no movement can mean an electrical problem inside the unit.

7. Look for a Broken Spring

If you heard a loud bang recently, look at the springs above the door. A gap in the coil means the spring is broken, and the opener should not be used until it is replaced. Do not try to lift the door or adjust the spring yourself. Learn more on our spring repair page.

Common Opener Problems and What They Usually Mean

The opener hums but the door will not move

This often points to a broken spring, a door that is too heavy for the opener, or a worn drive gear inside the unit. Do not keep pressing the button, since running the motor against a stuck door can burn it out.

The door starts to close, then goes back up

Almost always the safety sensors. Something is in the way, the lenses are dirty, or one sensor has been bumped out of line. It can also mean the close force needs adjusting.

The remote works but the wall button does not

Check whether the lock feature on the wall control is on. If not, the wall control or its wiring may need repair.

The wall button works but the remote does not

Start with a new remote battery. If that does not help, the remote may need to be reprogrammed or replaced.

The opener runs but the door does not move at all

The door may be disconnected from the opener, usually because someone pulled the emergency release cord. Our guide on opening your garage door when the power goes out explains how the release works and how to reconnect it.

The opener stopped working after a storm

Power surges from storms can damage the circuit board in an opener. If the outlet has power and nothing happens, the opener may need repair or replacement. A battery backup opener keeps working during outages.

Repair or Replace Your Opener?

If your opener is more than 10 to 15 years old, parts may be hard to find and it likely lacks modern safety and convenience features. We install LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers, including quiet, smart and battery backup models, and we will always tell you honestly whether a repair or a replacement makes more sense.

Garage Door Opener FAQs

Why does my garage door opener not work at all? Start with power: check the outlet, the breaker and any tripped GFCI outlet. Then check the lock button and the safety sensors.

Can I reprogram my own remote? Usually yes. Most openers have a learn button on the motor unit. If you get stuck, we can help during a service call.

Do you repair openers near me? We repair and install openers in Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach, Pawleys Island and across Georgetown and Horry counties. See our service areas.

When to Call a Pro

Call for service if your door is crooked, makes grinding noises, has a broken cable or spring, or if none of the checks above solve the problem. We repair and replace openers across Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Conway and the rest of the Grand Strand. See our opener repair and installation service.