You press the button… and nothing happens.

Or worse — your garage door starts to open, then stops halfway.

Before you assume the worst (or that you need a brand-new door), there are a few common issues that could be causing the problem — many of which are simple to fix.

Here are five things homeowners should check when their garage door won’t open.

1. Check the Remote Batteries

It sounds simple, but this is one of the most common issues.

If your wall button works but your remote doesn’t, the problem is likely just dead batteries.

2. Make Sure the Door Isn’t Locked

Sometimes the manual lock gets bumped accidentally.

If the door won’t move at all, check to make sure the lock isn’t engaged.

3. Look at the Safety Sensors

If your garage door tries to close but then reverses or won’t move, the sensors near the bottom of the track could be misaligned or blocked.

Check for:
• Dirt or debris
• Objects in the way
• Misaligned sensor lights

4. Listen for a Loud “Bang”

If you heard a loud noise before the door stopped working, it could be a broken torsion spring.

This is one of the most common garage door repairs.

⚠️ Important: Do NOT try to fix this yourself — springs are under high tension.

5. Check for Track or Roller Issues

If the door looks crooked or stuck, there may be:

• Bent tracks
• Worn rollers
• Loose hardware

These issues can often be repaired without replacing the entire door.

​When to Call a Professional

If you’ve checked these items and your garage door still isn’t working, it’s time to have it inspected.

Many problems can be fixed quickly — and much more affordably than a full replacement.

If your garage door won’t open and you’re not sure why, the team at Hollywood Door Company will give you an honest answer — repair if possible, replace only when necessary.