Garage Door Closes Then Reopens
Why does my garage door close and then immediately go back up?
What is actually causing it
Most likely first, based on what our crews find on the call.
01Something in the sensor beam
The door commits to closing, breaks the beam on the way down, and reverses. Look at what is within six inches of the floor along both tracks — a recycling bin lid, a hose end, a broom handle.
Safe to check yourself, with the door closed and the opener unplugged.
02Sensors slightly out of alignment
A marginal alignment holds the beam while the door is still, then loses it as the door's motion vibrates the brackets. Intermittent reversal that gets worse over weeks is the classic signature.
Safe to check yourself, with the door closed and the opener unplugged.
03Down-force setting too low
The opener reads the normal resistance of the last few inches — the seal compressing — as an obstruction and reverses. Adjustment, but one that must be made with the safety reversal retested afterwards.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
04Down-limit set too low
The opener drives the door into the slab and the safety logic reverses it. Same symptom, different setting, and the two are easy to confuse from a ladder.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
05Obstruction under the door
A garden hose, an extension cord or an uneven slab edge under the seal will do it. Sweep the threshold and try again.
Safe to check yourself, with the door closed and the opener unplugged.
06Worn bottom seal or a bowed bottom section
A door that no longer meets the floor squarely hits on one corner first and reverses. The seal or the section is the repair, not the opener.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does my garage door close and then immediately go back up?
Is this safe for me to fix myself?
How much will the repair cost?
Are you licensed?
Describe the noise. We will tell you what broke.
Most calls are diagnosed in under two minutes, with a price range before anyone drives out.
CA-GARAGEDOOR California — California contractor licence CSLB #1098234. Licensed, bonded and insured. 1-year parts & labor.