7 Common Garage Door Problems (and When to Call a Pro in Central Texas)

7 Common Garage Door Problems (and When to Call a Pro in Central Texas)

Your garage door is something you use every day, but most of the time you don’t think about it—until it stops working. Maybe it won’t open, gets stuck halfway, or makes a loud noise that wasn’t there before.

In this article, Alberto Garibay from AG Pro Garage Doors shares 7 common garage door problems, simple checks you can do yourself, and when it’s safer (and cheaper in the long run) to call a professional in Central Texas.

In this guide, we’ll walk through 7 common garage door problems, simple checks you can do at home, and when it’s time to call a professional in Central Texas.

1. The garage door won’t open or close

This is one of the most common calls we get.

Possible causes:

• The opener is unplugged or has no power

• The wall button or remote is not working

• The safety sensors are blocked or misaligned

Quick checks you can do:

• Make sure the opener is plugged in and the breaker is not tripped

• Check if anything is blocking the sensors near the floor

• Gently clean the sensor lenses with a soft cloth

If the door still won’t move or only clicks, it’s time to call a pro. Forcing the door can damage the opener or the door itself.

2. The door only opens halfway and then stops

When a door starts to move and then stops in the middle, it’s often a sign that something is binding or out of balance.

Possible causes:

• Damaged or worn rollers

• Bent tracks

• Spring or cable issues

This is not a DIY job. A garage door can be very heavy and the springs are under high tension. Let a trained technician inspect it safely.

3. The garage door is very noisy

Grinding, squeaking, or banging sounds are your garage door asking for attention.

Common reasons:

• Dry hinges and rollers

• Loose hardware

• Worn-out rollers or bearings

What you can do:

• Tighten visible nuts and bolts carefully with a wrench

• Use a garage door–safe lubricant on hinges and metal rollers

If the noise doesn’t improve, the problem may be in the opener or springs, and that’s when a professional inspection makes sense.

4. The remote or keypad stopped working

You press the button and nothing happens—very frustrating when you’re in a hurry.

Possible causes:

• Dead batteries

• Remote/keypad lost its programming

• Interference or an issue inside the opener

Quick fixes:

• Replace the batteries first

• Try opening the door from the wall button to see if the opener itself works

If only the remotes fail, they may need to be reprogrammed. If nothing works, the opener may need repair or replacement.

5. The door is off track or looks crooked

If the door is not sitting straight in the opening, stop using it immediately.

Warning:
Trying to force a crooked door to open or close can cause more damage and be dangerous.

This often means:

• A roller popped out of the track

• A cable has come loose or broken

• The track is bent or out of alignment

This is a situation where you should always call a professional. The door can be very heavy and unstable.

6. The door feels heavy or slams shut

If your garage door used to feel light and now feels very heavy, or if it wants to slam shut, the springs may be worn or broken.

Springs are what help lift the weight of the door. When they fail, the opener has to do all the work and can burn out quickly.

Never try to adjust or replace springs yourself.
They are under high tension and can cause serious injury if handled incorrectly.

Call a trained technician to replace them safely.

7. Gaps, drafts, or light around the door

If you see daylight around the sides or bottom of the door, or you feel air coming in, your weatherstripping may be worn out.

Problems this can cause:

• Higher energy bills

• Dust, bugs, and small animals getting into the garage

• Water coming in during heavy rain

Replacing seals and weatherstripping is a relatively simple fix and can make a big difference in comfort and protection.

Simple maintenance homeowners can do safely

Here are a few things you can do once or twice a year to keep your garage door in better shape:

• Check and gently tighten visible nuts and bolts

• Lubricate hinges, rollers, and springs with garage door lubricant

• Keep the tracks clean (but don’t try to bend or adjust them)

• Test the safety reverse feature of your opener

If something doesn’t look right or feels unsafe, stop and call a professional.

When it’s time to call a professional

You should always call a trained technician if:

• A spring or cable looks broken or loose

• The door is off track, crooked, or stuck halfway

• The opener is smoking, burning, or making strange grinding noises

• You don’t feel safe operating the door

A professional repair often costs less than replacing an opener or dealing with damage from a door that fails completely.

Schedule your garage door repair in Central Texas

If you’re in Round Rock, Pflugerville, Hutto, or the surrounding Central Texas area, Alberto Garibay and the team at AG Pro Garage Doors are ready to help.

We can inspect your entire system, explain what’s going on in simple terms, and give you an honest quote before any work is done.

Call today (512)300-7101 or request a visit through our website https://agprogaragedoors.com to schedule your garage door repair.