Last Updated on April 30, 2021 by
The Liftmaster garage door is used all the time, and it is prone to issues associated with general wear and tear. There are several reasons why the garage door won’t close, including a dirty or misaligned photo-eye, power failure, or broken door springs. The good news is that all the issues are easily solvable.
There are several reasons why a door won’t close, and this article takes you through each of them and their solutions. Some problems are easy to fix on your own, but some will require the help of a technician. It is advisable to call a professional to help if you can’t fix the problem by yourself.
Some of the reasons why a Liftmaster garage door won’t close are:
1. Blocked, Dirty, Or Misaligned Photo-Eye
Garage doors have a photo-eye that operates using two pieces that align face-to-face across each side of the garage door, roughly four feet above the ground. Upon activation, a pea-sized laser beam is sent from one end to the other.
If this photo-eye is blocked, misaligned, or dirty, the garage door cannot close completely.
The beam controls the opening or closing of the door. When a user chooses to close the door, the beam scans if there is any obstruction. If any object or obstruction is detected, the door either halts its closure or reverses in full. The photo-eye is essential for safety since it ensures the door does not close when there are objects or people on the way. The moment it senses any obstruction, the movement of the door stops. Types of obstruction are stones, paper, or any physical object.
The dust or dirt on the photo-eye is seen as an obstruction, so the door will not close or move. The photo-eye is also affected by rain droplets and moist air. The specific part of the photo-eye affected by these two factors is the circuit connection.
Misalignment issue between the two photo-eyes is another cause of doors not closing. The two photo eyes activate the LED lights on the ends. It happens when the two sides have an interaction.
2. Disconnection Of Power
Like any electronic, garage doors cannot operate without power. If power is lost, the garage door will not close. Power disconnection can either be caused by unplugging the power cable or a blown a fuse, faulty outlet, or circuit breaker. Faulty outlet means the power cable is not the issue, but the cord is not receiving any power. Try plugging the cable on another outlet or socket and see if the door will close. If it doesn’t, then the chances are that a blown a fuse or the circuit is broken. It is advisable to have issues with the circuit breaker should be fixed by a professional.
The solutions for these two problems are plugging the cord or reset the fuses.
3. Expired Batteries
Other than power disconnection, expired batteries are another cause of non-operating garage doors. They require remote transmitters that use batteries to open or close. When batteries expire, the remote system will not work.
The solution to this problem is to replace the batteries. It is a simple solution, so there is no need to call a professional service provider to fix it. Also, there is no need to service calls.
In situations where the user is uncertain about the type of batteries to buy, they can carry the old batteries to the store and get assistance. The remote chamber is usually on the backside of the remote. The chamber can be opened and closed by sliding the case or screwdriver. When placing the batteries, they should be aligned in the right direction, depending on the manual. Placing batteries in the wrong way has adverse effects on the Liftmaster garage door.
4. Broken Garage Door Springs
After checking the power connection and ensuring everything is working well; you should consider checking the door springs next. The issue might be that the springs are broken. Compared to other issues, broken springs is the most frequent problem. It seems like a small problem, but it is pretty severe.
The garage doors have two types of springs; torsion springs and extension springs. The torsion springs in a garage door are usually at the width. They are horizontally placed. They are responsible for guiding the door. The role of the extension springs is to lift and lower the door along the tracks.
The solution to this problem is replacing the springs. Service calls should always be done.
There are a certain number of cycles that a spring can be involved in. When the cycle end, the spring should be replaced. Overuse of springs beyond these cycles can lead to snapping, which causes the door to stop operating abruptly. It is dangerous, and it causes an inconvenience to the user. In a situation where a spring snaps in the morning, the user will be late for work or school. It can be frustrating.
A professional service provider should fix broken springs. Manually opening a door or attempting to fix it is not advisable
5. Snapped Cables
Cables ensure the springs can move up and down physically. In situations where the springs break, the cables prevent the door from slamming to the ground with all of its weight. This slamming can cause damage to the door and any object on its way. An object means a living thing or a non-living thing. Also, a loud noise is produced. A broken cable is a dangerous problem because there will be no way to prevent the slamming of the door. The solution to this problem is to replace cables. The service calls should always be done.
Once you realize the springs are broken, it is important not to operate the door. This is because the cables will quickly get damaged. Instead of reaching this point, it is advisable to avoid using a door if the springs are already broken.
Solutions To Fix Problems Related To Liftmaster Garage Doors
Door problems are frustrating. It is essential to know the basic fixing tips for the doors. Some door problems include door is unable to close, but it can be opened, a door closes partially, the door is unable to open even slightly, the remote system of the door is not working.
One of the solutions to fixing doors is to adjust the protector system sensors. After this, the doors will work correctly. Liftmaster garage doors have protector system sensors. They have a light that detects anything that crosses its path. Once they detect something or someone, the door opens. If a door problem is detected, first confirm the sensors are working. This is done by ensuring there is nothing between the sensors. If the pathway is clear, the sensors are problem-free.
The sensors should be arranged correctly. When the arrangement is correct, the indicator lights in both the sending and receiving eyes will glow steadily. The wire connection should also be done correctly. If the alignment is done incorrectly, the sending eye will glow, but the receiving eye will be dim, flickering, or not light at all. When the sensors are correctly aligned, the garage door will open and close with ease.
Conclusion
Most home garages use the Liftmaster door opener since it is safe and secure. When the garage door develops problems, it can be pretty frustrating. However, most problems experienced with these doors are easily solvable. If your door is not closing, check if there’s any obstruction in the way. These doors were designed to not close on kids, and therefore any obstruction causes the door to stop. Remove any obstruction before you try to close the door. If you use the remote control to close the door, check to ensure that it has batteries; sometimes, the issue is with the battery or remote.
Another common problem for most people is a power failure; if your door opener is not connected to the power, the lights won’t blink or turn green. This could be because of the disconnection of a blown fuse. If your door opener is well connected, contact a technician to come and check and change the fuse for you. Your door springs could also be broken, and you need a professional to fix that for you.
