Garage door won't stay closed

by James H.
(Amberstburg, ON Canada)

QUESTION:

It just started. When I close the garage door it goes down to the bottom, barely touching the cement and comes back up. Not sure what button to adjust (up or down) to correct this problem.


ANSWER:

If you could provide me with the make and model of your garage door opener, I should be able to get you a specific answer about your garage door not staying closed. As you suggested, you likely just need to adjust the down limit (travel) or the closing force.

Depending on the model, yours may also have a door sensor, sometimes called a door edge sensor, that stops and reverses the garage door when it encounters a person or object in its path. This is a safety feature that some models use in addition to the infrared garage door sensors, i.e., the light beam across the bottom of the garage door opening. In your case, the "object or person" is the garage floor, which shouldn't cause the door to reverse.

Just in case you want to check first, there are typically two ways the down limit and/or down force on most garage door openers are adjusted. Many models have two screws somewhere on the power head (the main motor that hangs from the ceiling) used to adjust the down limit or "travel." Two more screws are used to adjust the closing force. Some new models use clearly marked buttons. If you don't have a manual for your opener, you can find a garage door opener manual for most models on this site.

Depending on the make and model of your opener, you may need to remove one of the light covers (the white lens cover over the light bulb) to find the adjustment screws. They often have two spots (one spot on each side of the lens) that you push simultaneously to release the lens, which is often on a hinge. Your down limit and force adjustment screws may be hidden beneath the lens. If you have ever changed a light bulb in your opener you may be familiar with this if it applies to your make and model.


If you have a Craftsman garage door opener, the limit adjustment screws are typically on the left side of the power head - left as you stand under the power head looking out the garage door. The force adjustment screws are typically on the right side.

When you find the adjustment screws or buttons, decrease the down limit a little and try to close your garage door again. For Craftsman models, you decrease the down travel by turning the down limit screw clockwise (most Craftsman models). One complete turn is equal to 2 inches of travel (most Craftsman models).

Here are two more things to consider:

1. If the garage door opener lights flash when the door reverses, you likely need to adjust your garage door sensors. They could be out of alignment or they may need to be cleaned (this is not too common).

2. Your garage door may be binding, i.e., not rolling smoothly along the garage door tracks. To test for this, use the manual release handle (rope hanging from garage door opener track) to release the garage door from the opener. If the door does not travel smoothly along the tracks, you may need to do a little garage door track maintenance or have the door and tracks adjusted by a professional.