installing a new, efficient garage door

The garage is the most used entry and exit point for many modern homeowners. A garage door that refuses to close completely can be a major cause for concern. After all, you don't want to leave your garage door open throughout the day if you use your garage space to house valuable items.

Before you jump to the conclusion that your garage door won't close because it needs a new torsion spring or the tracks are completely warped, consider some simple reasons why the door may not be closing.

1. Manual Lock is Engaged

All garage doors are equipped with a manual lock feature that allows homeowners to bypass the electrical system typically responsible for opening and closing the garage door. The manual lock feature can be convenient in a power outage, but it can cause a lot of concern when it is accidentally engaged.

A rope (typically red in color) hanging from the main power unit inside your garage activates the manual lock feature. If this rope is pulled by accident while the door is in the up position, you won't be able to close the door using your remote.

All you have to do is pull on the rope again to release the manual lock and restore proper function to your door.

2. Transmitter Batteries are Bad

You probably rely on a remote transmitter housed inside your vehicle to open and close your garage door. These transmitters make it easy to raise or lower your garage door without exiting your vehicle, but they need to have adequate battery power to perform properly.

Bad transmitter batteries will prevent the transmitter from communicating with the motor on your garage door. Replacing the batteries should restore proper function. If it doesn't, you may need a garage door repair specialist to come and program a new set of transmitters.

3. Photo-Eye is Blocked

An automatic garage door can pose a safety hazard. Modern doors are equipped with photo-eyes that will stop a door from closing if any object is detected. This feature can prevent a serious injury, but it can also explain why your garage door suddenly won't close properly.

There is a photo-eye on either side of your garage door near the floor. These eyes communicate with one another to control the movement of your garage door.

It is common for the lens on one of your photo-eyes to get dirty. Cleaning the lens should restore the function of your door. If it doesn't you will need the help of a garage door technician to troubleshoot your photo-eyes.

For more information on garage door repair, contact a professional near you.