Why Does My Garage Door Only Open Halfway?

Your garage door could very well open and close 10 or more times per day. That adds up to a lot of usage over the course of a year, so it only makes sense that, as with any other kind of mechanical system, you could experience some hiccups with its operation at some point.

One common issue is a garage door that only opens up halfway. If you experience this problem, what should you do?

Here’s what you should know about a garage door that’s stopping halfway.

Identify the issue

The first step is to figure out what is stopping the door from properly opening up. First, completely close the door. Once the door is closed all the way, pull on the emergency release cord to separate the opener trolley from the door, and manually lift it by hand. If the door opens up manually without any problem, the issue is likely with the automatic opener. But if you’re only able to open the door halfway even when doing so manually, there’s something wrong with the door.

Reasons for malfunctions

One common, simple explanation is that weather conditions are affecting the operation of the door. If you live in an area that sees both extreme heat and extreme cold, the changing seasons could cause the rails or other parts of your garage door to warp, expand or contract, which can make it difficult for the door to work the way it’s supposed to. This could force the opener to use extra pressure to get the door open or closed, and over time could wear out that mechanical component.

In some cases, the problem could lie with the springs or drums. The spring system exists to support the bulk of your garage door’s weight, and also helps turn the metal drums that raise the door via a set of cables on either side. If a spring is broken, the whole system will be off balance. The drum could also be blocked by some kind of obstruction, or a cable that’s tangled up.

Check all the springs and drums to see if there are any visible signs of damage, and if so, get a professional out to resolve the problem. NEVER try to repair or replace springs yourself, as accidents from releasing the springs’ tension could be fatal.

Another common problem is blockages. Dirt, leaves and other types of loose debris might build up inside the rails or other parts of the door system. This could cause a blockage that needs to be cleaned out before the door is able to function properly again. Small toys or balls could also get lodged in areas that prevent proper operation. Check for blockages and see if clearing them helps restore the normal operation of the system.

These are just a few examples of some of the most common problems that result in a garage door that opens halfway or otherwise isn’t opening properly. For more information about how you can stay up to date with your garage door maintenance, contact the team at Denton Overhead Door.

Categorised in: Garage Door Repair