Opener not working? Call now and tell us what the door is doing.
✆ Call 845-535-1141Most opener faults can be narrowed down by one question: what happens when you press the button? The answer usually points to the sensors, the remote, the power, the opener's own parts, or the door itself. Work through the table below, try the safe checks, and call 845-535-1141 if the door still will not run. We repair LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Craftsman, Linear and most other residential openers.
What the Opener Is Doing, and What It Usually Means
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Safe to check yourself? |
|---|---|---|
| Door starts down, then goes back up; opener light flashes | Safety sensors blocked, dirty, out of line or with a damaged wire | Yes. See the sensor check below. |
| Wall button works, remotes and keypad do not | Lock or vacation switch on the wall control is on, or dead remote batteries | Yes. |
| Nothing at all: no light, no sound | No power: outlet, tripped breaker or GFCI, or an unplugged unit | Yes. |
| Motor hums, door does not move | Broken spring, a jammed door, or a failed start capacitor | Look only. Do not keep pressing the button. |
| Motor runs, chain or belt does not move | Stripped drive gear inside the opener | No. This is a repair. |
| Motor and chain run, door stays put | The red release was pulled, or the trolley has broken | Yes, if the door is closed. See below. |
| Door stops partway, or will not close fully | Travel limits or force settings, or a door that is binding | No. Wrong settings defeat the safety reverse. |
| Remote only works from very close | Weak battery, a damaged antenna wire, or interference from LED bulbs | Yes. |
| Opener beeps every so often | Backup battery needs replacing (on battery-backup models) | The battery is a simple swap on most models. |
| Door opens by itself | A stuck wall button, a shorted control wire, or a remote programmed to more than one opener | No. Have it checked. |
Five Safe Checks Before You Call
- Sensors. Near the floor on each side of the door is a small sensor with an indicator light. Both lights should be steady. If one is off or blinking, clear anything in the way, wipe the lenses, and gently turn the sensor until the light holds steady. Look along the wire for a staple cut or a spot a pet has chewed.
- The lock switch. Many wall controls have a lock or vacation button that disables every remote. If the wall button works and nothing else does, press and hold the lock button for a few seconds.
- Power. Plug something else into the opener's outlet. Check the breaker and press the reset on any GFCI outlet in the garage, since they often share a circuit.
- Remote batteries. Replace them, then test from inside the garage.
- The red release. If the motor runs but the door does not move, the door may simply be disconnected. With the door fully closed, pull the release handle toward the door and run the opener once to re-engage it. Do not pull the release on an open door: if a spring is broken, the door can drop.
Stop there. Do not adjust the force or travel settings to make a struggling door close, and do not keep pressing the button on a motor that hums. Both hide a problem and both make the repair larger.
When the Problem Is the Door, Not the Opener
An opener is built to guide a balanced door, not to lift its weight. When a spring breaks or a roller binds, the opener is the first thing to complain: it hums, strains, stops partway or reverses. That is why we check the door and the opener together. A quick test, with the door closed and the release pulled: lift the door by hand. It should rise smoothly and stay put around waist height. If it is very heavy or slams down, the fault is in the springs, cables or tracks, and running the opener will damage it.
Opener Repairs We Carry Out
- Safety sensors: realignment, rewiring and replacement.
- Drive gear and sprocket kits on chain and belt units where the motor runs but nothing moves.
- Start capacitors on motors that hum and will not turn.
- Circuit (logic) boards after power surges or lightning, where the board is still made.
- Trolleys, belts and chains, including tensioning.
- Travel limit and force settings, followed by a safety-reverse test.
- Remotes, keypads and wall controls: replacement and programming.
- Wi-Fi and app setup on connected openers.
- Backup batteries.
Repair or Replace the Opener?
| Repair usually makes sense when | Replacement usually makes sense when |
|---|---|
| One part has failed on an otherwise sound unit | The opener has no safety sensors (units made before 1993) |
| Sensors, remotes or settings are the fault | The circuit board has failed and is no longer made |
| The unit is quiet and has been reliable | The motor itself has burned out |
| Parts are readily available | You want battery backup, quiet belt drive or phone control anyway |
If replacement is the better answer, the options are laid out on our garage door opener installation page, with brand-specific troubleshooting below.
Brand-Specific Troubleshooting
Each brand signals faults in its own way. See LiftMaster opener repair (flashing arrow codes), Chamberlain opener repair (common installation faults) and Genie opener repair (Safe-T-Beam lights and screw drives).
What to Tell Us When You Call
- The brand, and the model if you can read it on the motor unit.
- What happens when you press the wall button, and whether the opener light blinks.
- Whether the sensor lights are steady.
- Whether the door lifts easily by hand when disconnected (only test this with the door closed).
- Whether a car is trapped inside.
Related Guides
- Garage door won't open? What to check first
- Why won't my garage door close?
- Garage door stuck open: what to do
- Garage door safety features
- Garage door repair
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and When We Work
We are open Sunday to Thursday 7 AM to 11 PM, and Friday 7 AM to 1 PM (closed Saturday). In Rockland County that includes Monsey, Spring Valley, Suffern, New City, Nanuet and the surrounding communities, and we also serve Orange, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties. Call 845-535-1141 to confirm availability for your address.