Garage Door Won't Open? Safe Checks and Spring Replacement Cost

A garage door that will not open is stressful, especially when your car is inside. Many causes are simple and safe to check yourself. Others, like a broken spring or cable, are dangerous and need a professional.

This guide uses safety guidance from the door industry association DASMA and opener maker Chamberlain Group, plus published cost guides, all checked on September 25, 2026.

Safe quick checks first

Do these checks in order. Stay out of the path of the door while you test it.

1. Check for power. Does the light on the opener turn on? If not, make sure the opener is plugged in and the power in the garage is on.
2. Try the wall button. If the wall button works but the remote does not, the problem is the remote, not the door.
3. Turn off Lock mode. Many wall controls have a Lock or Vacation button. When Lock mode is on, the opener ignores remotes. On Chamberlain openers, the opener lights flash twice when you press the remote. Press and hold the Lock button until the indicator stops flashing.
4. Replace the remote battery. Chamberlain remotes use a CR2032 3V battery. Check that the + side faces the right way and the contacts are clean.
5. Test range. Stand right under the opener and press the remote. If it works only up close, radio interference (for example from some LED bulbs) may be the cause.
6. Reprogram the remote if the opener's memory was cleared. Holding the opener's LEARN button too long erases all remotes. Follow your opener's manual to add the remote again.

Door opens but won't close? Check the safety sensors

The safety sensors (photo eyes) are the two small boxes near the floor on each side of the door. Chamberlain says the opener will not move the door down unless the sensors are connected and lined up. So sensors are the usual cause when a door opens but will not close. When there is a sensor problem, the opener lights may flash 10 times.

1. Remove anything between the two sensors.
2. Look at the sensor lights. On Chamberlain models, the sending sensor has an amber light and the receiving sensor has a green light. Both should glow steadily.
3. If a light is off or flickering, gently loosen the wing nut and move the sensor until the light glows steadily. Then tighten it.
4. Chamberlain says sunlight shining into the receiving (green) sensor can also make the opener act as if something is blocking the door.
5. Check that the wires to the sensors are not cut or loose.

Signs of a broken spring

Chamberlain notes that garage doors are heavy and rely on spring tension. When a spring is weak or broken, the opener may not be able to lift the door. These can be signs of a spring or cable problem:

• The opener runs but the door lifts only about 6 to 12 inches and stops.
• A spring above the door looks broken or separated.
• The door feels very heavy, will not stay up, or drops quickly.
• Cables on the sides of the door look loose, frayed or worn.

Why you should never DIY a torsion spring

A torsion spring is a large coil on a metal bar above the door. It is wound very tight to balance the door's weight. If it releases suddenly during repair, it can cause serious injury. This Old House notes that torsion springs are more dangerous to replace than extension springs because they are tightly wound around a metal shaft, and it recommends hiring a technician.

DASMA also says frayed or worn lift cables are in danger of breaking and should be replaced only by a trained technician, because of the high spring tension.

Using the manual release safely

The red cord hanging from the opener rail is the emergency release. It disconnects the door from the opener so you can move it by hand. Chamberlain gives these warnings:

• Use the release only when the door is fully closed, if possible. If the springs are weak or broken, an open door can fall fast and without warning.
• Never pull the release cord to raise or lower the door.
• Keep people, pets and objects out of the doorway.
• Stop and call a professional if the door feels very heavy, will not stay open, or slams shut.

Garage door spring replacement cost

We could not find a trusted published cost guide for Surrey or BC. The guides below are US national estimates in US dollars. Prices in Surrey may be different. Use them only as a rough idea.

The price can change based on the type of spring, how many springs your door has, the size and weight of the door, and whether you need an emergency visit. HomeAdvisor notes many companies charge extra for emergency or after-hours service.

When to call a garage door pro

Call a trained garage door technician if:

• You see a broken spring or a gap in the spring coils.
• Cables are frayed, loose or off their drums.
• The door is crooked, off its tracks or drops when you let go.
• The door feels heavy or out of balance when disconnected from the opener.
• You have done the quick checks and the opener still does not work.

If the opener motor runs with the door disconnected but the door will not move, the problem is usually the door (springs, cables, tracks), not the opener.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources

• Garage Door Safety Tips — DASMA
• How to Manually Open or Close a Garage Door — Chamberlain Group
• Remote Control Does Not Work — Chamberlain Group
• Troubleshoot Garage Door Safety Sensors — Chamberlain Group
• Opener Lights Flash and Door Will Not Close — Chamberlain Group
• Garage Door Won't Fully Open or Close — Chamberlain Group
• Garage Door Spring Replacement Cost — This Old House
• Garage Door Spring Repair Cost — HomeAdvisor
• Cost to Update Garage Door Spring — Homewyse

General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.