Common Opener Problems and What Causes Them

The opener hums but the door doesn’t move

This is almost always a broken spring. The springs do the heavy lifting; the opener only guides the door. When a spring breaks, the motor strains against a door it can’t lift. Don’t keep pressing the button, because that can burn out the motor.

The door starts to close, then reverses

Usually the safety sensors near the floor. They may be dirty, knocked out of alignment, or blocked. Check that both small lights on the sensors are lit and steady. If cleaning and straightening them doesn’t fix it, a sensor or its wiring may need replacing. This is a quick, inexpensive repair.

The motor runs but the door doesn’t move

The motor is working, but something between it and the door has failed. The most common causes are a stripped drive gear, a broken chain or belt, or a trolley that has come disconnected. Most of these parts are replaceable without buying a new opener.

The remote or keypad stopped working

Start with fresh batteries. If that doesn’t help, the remote may need reprogramming, or the opener’s receiver may have failed. The “Learn” button steps are in the FAQ below.

The opener doesn’t respond at all

Check that the unit is plugged in and that the outlet has power. Garage outlets are often on a GFCI that trips and needs resetting. If power is fine and nothing happens, the logic board or wall control may have failed.

Grinding, rattling, or loud noise

Usually worn gears, a loose chain, or hardware that needs tightening. Noise is often an early warning, so it’s cheaper to deal with it before something breaks.

The door stops partway or won’t fully close

The travel limits may need adjusting, or the door itself may be binding on its tracks. We check the whole door, not just the opener, because a door that’s off balance will wear out any opener you put on it.

Repair or Replace?

Repair usually makes sense when the opener is under 10 to 15 years old and the problem is a single part: a gear, trolley, sensor, board, or remote.

Replacement usually makes more sense when:

• The opener is older than about 15 years
• It was made before 1993 and has no safety-reverse feature
• The repair would cost close to the price of a new unit
• You want features it can’t add, such as battery backup or phone control

We’ll tell you which option makes sense before any work starts. If replacement is the better call, our guide to opener installation and costs explains chain, belt and wall-mount options.

What Opener Repair Costs

You’ll get a clear price before we start. No surprise charges.

Brands We Repair

LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Craftsman, Sommer, Linear and other major brands, including older units.

Where We Work

We repair garage door openers across Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia, including Bowie, Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Washington DC and Loudoun County. Same-day and emergency service are available.

Commercial opener and operator work is covered on our commercial garage door repair page.

Garage Door Opener Repair FAQs

My opener hums but the door doesn’t move. What’s wrong? Usually a broken spring rather than a broken opener. It can also be a stripped gear or a disengaged trolley. Get it diagnosed before replacing the unit.

My door reverses before it closes. Is the opener broken? Usually not. It’s most often the safety sensors being out of line or blocked. It’s a quick fix and doesn’t require a new opener.

How long do garage door openers last? Around 10 to 15 years. If yours is older and needs a major repair, replacement is often better value.

How do I reprogram my remote? Find the “Learn” button on the motor unit (often under the light cover) or on the wall control. Press it once (twice if it’s on the wall control), then within 30 seconds press and hold the remote button until the opener light blinks or clicks. The remote should now work.

Do you repair openers, or only replace them? We repair whenever repair makes sense. Gears, circuit boards, trolleys, sensors and remotes are all serviceable.

Can you come today? Same-day service is often available. Call or text 301-200-1217 and we’ll give you the earliest time slot.

Get Your Opener Working Again

Call or text 301-200-1217 for opener repair anywhere in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia. Every repair is backed by our 7-year workmanship warranty.