How To Get A Stuck Garage Door Open
Your garage door not opening is a real problem, especially if your car is stuck in there. Fortunately, you should be able to get the garage door to open with minimal effort. Here, you'll learn a few things to try to get the door open.
Start with the Garage Door Opener
When the garage door opener malfunctions, it can prevent the door from opening or closing.
It might seem silly, but the first thing to do is check the batteries in the remote. It's possible that the batteries are charged enough to activate a light on the remote, but not enough charge to send a full signal to the garage door opener. Replace the batteries and give the door a try.
Check to see if the garage door opener is getting power. Check the breaker to see if it's been tripped. If so, reset it and try the door. If that's not the problem and you can clearly see that the opener isn't getting power, there could be a chewed or damaged wire that needs to be replaced.
Clean the sensors at the garage door opening. These sensors are designed to keep the door from coming down on anything that is in its way. If the sensor is covered with dirt and cobwebs, it will not allow the door to open or close.
Do a System Reset
Refer to the owner's manual to learn how a system reset is performed on your model of garage door opener. Most of the time, you'll just have to press and hold a reset button for a minute or so to give the system the reboot it might need.
Examine the chain to make sure that it doesn't have too much play in it. If the chain is loose, the tension needs to be adjusted. Again, your owner's manual will show you how that is done on the particular model in your garage.
Inspect the Door Hardware
Inspect the tracks for corrosion or damage that would keep the door from rolling up and down smoothly. If you see that there is a section that is slightly bent, use a rubber mallet and wood block to try pounding it back into its original shape.
Clean the tracks and spray them with a little bit of WD-40. This might not help to free a stuck garage door, but it will help to get things moving once you've figured out why the door won't move.
Talk with your local garage door services professional for further assistance.