Reasons Why Your Garage Door is Getting Stuck Halfway

Automatic garage doors are designed to open and close when activated by a remote control. With regular maintenance, these doors can function smoothly and effectively for a long time without any problems. Even with regular maintenance, however, issues can arise that may cause your garage door opener to malfunction.
One of the most common problems you may encounter with your garage opener is the door stopping halfway and refusing to close completely. It may stop or reverse on the track in the open position, leaving your garage and property vulnerable to burglars. This may pose an even greater security risk for you and your loved ones if your residence is directly attached to the garage.

Before calling a professional, you may want to try troubleshooting common issues yourself. Below are some easy checks you can do to avoid spending money on unnecessary repairs or on a problem that you could easily fix yourself. Of course, if the issues below do not seem to be the problem, you can always call in a garage door expert to help diagnose and fix the problem.

Obstructed or Misaligned Tracks

Garage door sensors are designed to work only when the infra-red beams are properly positioned. In layman terms, the infra-red sensors (AKA “photo-eyes”) should be carefully aligned to “see each other” at all times. Your garage door should only close when the infra-red beams are in a constant path.

If an obstruction is detected in this path, the infrared beams will prevent the door from closing. This is a safety mechanism designed to prevent your garage door from accidentally falling on a person, animal or an object caught in the garage’s doorway.

If your garage doors are not closing all the way down, it could be that the sensors are detecting an obstruction.

To diagnose the problem, first check that there is nothing blocking the doorway. If you do not notice any obstruction, check the sensors to ensure that they are properly aligned. Sensors can easily become misaligned if they are knocked or hit by any object or person that comes into the garage. If there is any misalignment, tighten the wing nuts holding them in place and turn the sensors slowly with your hand until they are accurately aligned. While doing this, clean the sensors using a cloth to remove any dirt or debris that may be blocking the infrared beams.

Misaligned Tracks

If your garage door opener is still malfunctioning after assessing its infrared sensors, you may want to examine the tracks on your garage door. Misaligned tracks are known to create unwanted tension and friction. This may cause the guide tracks to reverse, forcing your garage door to roll all the way back into the open position. If your garage door is stuck halfway, there may be something obstructing the track and preventing your door from sliding up completely. Something as small as a protruding nut or misaligned cable could be keeping your garage from opening and closing properly. Assess your roller tracks and hinges for anything that may be obstructing or jamming your door. After carefully clearing your roller tracks of any potential obstructions, your garage door should open and close without issues.

Faulty Pulleys and Springs

If your garage door is still malfunctioning, you may have a faulty pulley or spring. If you think this may be the case, we advise you to call a professional. The springs and pulleys found in garage door mechanisms are highly tensioned and specially designed to bear the weight of your specific door. Handling these parts is especially dangerous, as doing so may trip the door into crashing down, causing serious injury.

Our professional team of experts at Acrosstown Door has years of experience troubleshooting and repairing garage doors. Don’t risk putting yourself or your loved ones in danger and give us a call if anything seems wrong with your garage door. We’re happy to assess and troubleshoot any issue, big or small. To learn more about how Acrosstown Door can help, check out our services.