When a garage door won’t open, it’s usually at the worst moment, with the car stuck inside. We hear from Aurora homeowners about this all the time, and luckily the cause is often simple. Here are the questions they ask us, answered plainly.

What should I check first?

Start with the easy stuff before you assume the worst, since the remote may just need a new battery. The wall button may have its lock feature turned on, or the opener may have lost power from a tripped breaker or a GFCI outlet that popped somewhere in the house. Pressing the wall button is a quick diagnostic test, because if it works and the remote doesn’t, the remote is the problem.

The motor runs, but the door stays put. Why?

The trolley that connects the door to the opener may be disconnected, which happens when someone pulls the red emergency release cord. Reconnecting it is usually easy, and the instructions are in the opener’s manual.

It hums, or it lifts a few inches and stops. Now what?

That usually points to a bigger problem with the door itself, and a broken spring is the most common cause, since springs carry the weight of the door and the opener can’t lift it without them. A snapped lifting cable can cause the same symptom.

Can I just lift it by hand?

Please don’t try it, because a door with a broken spring is very heavy and can fall without warning. Leave the car where it is for now and call a technician who has the right tools. (We know it’s frustrating to wait, but it’s still the safe move.)

Does winter make it worse?

Yes. Cold Illinois winters give one more reason a garage door won’t open on the first try. Old grease thickens in the cold, and rubber seals can freeze to the concrete floor overnight. Press the wall button once, gently, instead of pressing it over and over.

1 Stop Garage Doors helps Aurora homeowners with doors that won’t open, from opener faults to broken springs. Call (630) 520-5088 for a free quote.