Why Does a Garage Door Get Stuck?
A garage door can become stuck when an object interferes with the door while it is opening or closing.
A common example is when a long object such as a broom, pole or tool is left standing near the side of the garage door track. When the door operates, the object can become trapped between the door and the track or other moving components.
Another common situation occurs when a garage door is closing while a vehicle is being driven out of the garage. If the vehicle is moved out too late, the door can come down onto the roof of the vehicle, obstructing the door and potentially causing significant damage to both the door and the vehicle.
In general, anything that interferes with the normal movement of the door can cause it to become stuck, jammed or damaged.
A Garage Door Can Also Get Stuck When a Cable Comes Off
A garage door can also become stuck if one of the lifting cables comes off the drum or becomes loose.
Operating the door with a loose or displaced cable can cause the door to become uneven, jam against the tracks or become completely stuck.
We cover cable-related door problems separately in our Cable Repair section.
Modern Garage Door Openers Provide Better Safety
Modern automatic garage door openers are designed with obstruction detection to help prevent damage and injury.
If the opener detects abnormal resistance while the door is operating, it can stop or reverse the door instead of continuing to force it against an obstruction.
Many modern systems can also be fitted with infrared (IR) safety sensors, which provide an additional level of protection.
For example, Merlin Smart / myQ-compatible systems with safety IR sensors can detect an obstruction in the doorway, such as a child, pet or vehicle, before the door closes completely. The sensors are installed on both sides of the garage door opening and create an invisible beam across the doorway. If this beam is interrupted, the opener prevents the door from closing.
Older Garage Door Openers Can Be More Vulnerable
Older garage door openers may have limited obstruction detection or may not have modern safety sensor systems installed.
If an obstruction is present, an older opener may continue attempting to operate the door. This can place excessive force on the door panels, tracks, rollers, cables and opener, potentially resulting in further damage.
For this reason, upgrading an older opener can provide more than just improved convenience. A modern opener with appropriate safety features can significantly improve the overall safety of the garage door system.
What Should You Do If Your Garage Door Is Stuck?
A stuck garage door can be extremely dangerous, particularly if the door is partially raised, off its tracks, or under tension from the springs and cables.
Do not force the door closed or attempt to pull it down manually.
Do not continue operating the automatic opener in an attempt to overcome the obstruction. This can cause additional damage and may create a serious safety risk.
If your garage door becomes stuck:
- Stop operating the door.
- Keep children and pets away from the area.
- Do not attempt to force or manually move the door.
- Contact Eden Garage Doors for an inspection.
Garage Door Repair & Restoration – One-Stop Service
At Eden Garage Doors, we provide a complete one-stop repair and restoration service for stuck and obstructed garage doors.
Our technicians can inspect the door and identify the cause of the problem, including:
- Door obstructions
- Damaged or misaligned tracks
- Loose or displaced cables
- Damaged rollers
- Broken springs
- Damaged door panels
- Opener or motor problems
- Safety sensor issues
Where required, we can repair or restore the garage door and also replace or upgrade the garage door opener as part of the same service.
If your garage door is stuck, don’t force it — contact Eden Garage Doors.
