When a garage door won’t close, most people immediately assume the operator failed. In commercial buildings, that’s rarely the first cause. In our day-to-day work at Facility Door Solutions, the issue is usually a safety device input, alignment condition, or mechanical resistance the system detects. Modern overhead doors are designed to stop instead of forcing movement. So when a door refuses to shut, the equipment is often protecting people, vehicles, and the building itself.
Knowing what to check first can save downtime and help you quickly determine whether a garage door won’t close because of a minor condition or a problem that requires service.
Safety Sensors Are the Most Common Reason a Garage Door Won’t Close
Commercial operators rely heavily on entrapment protection devices. These include photo eyes, monitored edges, and presence sensors near the opening.
If anything interrupts the photo eye beam, the operator will reverse immediately.
In warehouses and service bays, this happens constantly. Forklifts pass through openings, pallets sit near jambs, and dust coats sensors quickly. Even low-angle sunlight can interrupt the photo eye beam.
Start by checking:
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Dirt or condensation on the lenses
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Misaligned photo eyes
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A loose mounting bracket
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Damaged sensor wiring
This behavior is intentional. According to the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA), commercial door operators use monitored entrapment protection devices. When one of those devices is triggered, the operator must stop and reverse instead of continuing to close.
In other words, the operator is doing exactly what it was built to do.
Garage Door Reverses After Closing
When the door closes fully but pops back open, the system thinks it struck an obstruction. Unlike the photo eye sensors, this reaction is triggered by the operator detecting resistance during closing.
Most of the time, resistance is the problem.
A worn threshold seal, bent track, or debris along the floor changes closing pressure. The operator interprets that as a person or object in the opening.
Commercial door operators monitor closing force for safety under UL 325 safety standards. Added resistance at the floor makes the operator reverse instead of pushing through.
One thing we check immediately is the bottom weather seal. If it’s folded, torn, or packed with grit, the door cannot compress evenly. That uneven pressure trips the safety reversal. A quick inspection of how the lower rubber edge sits across the concrete often reveals the issue. Many facility managers are surprised how much door performance depends on the condition of that sealing strip.
Why Pressure Settings Matter
Operators use force settings to determine how much resistance is acceptable. If they’re too sensitive, the door stops early. If they’re too strong, the system becomes unsafe.
Because of safety regulations, technicians should be the only ones adjusting those settings. Random adjustments often create intermittent operation instead of solving the real cause.
A Garage Door Won’t Close When Tracks or Rollers Bind
Commercial overhead doors travel along steel tracks under spring tension. Even a small misalignment can stop movement.
Watch the door carefully while closing. If it hesitates at the same spot every time, binding is likely.
Look for:
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A roller that turns sideways
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A track pulled away from the wall
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A bent vertical section
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Metal shavings under the track
When the track or rollers bind, the operator senses abnormal resistance and stops or reverses instead of forcing the door closed.
A door that sticks isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a safety concern.
If the Opener Strains or Jerks While Closing
If the opener strains or the chain jerks, stop cycling the door. Continued operation can damage the operator gearbox, stretch the chain, or stress the mounting hardware.
Repeated attempts to force a closing door often turn a minor alignment or resistance issue into a larger repair.
Spring or Cable Issues Prevent Closure
A garage door won’t close when it is out of balance. Torsion springs counterbalance the door’s weight. Without proper balance, the opener cannot safely lower it.
Signs of a balance problem include:
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The door drops faster than normal
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The opener sounds louder than usual
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One side of the door sits lower
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Cables appear loose
A commercial door may weigh hundreds of pounds. The opener is not designed to lift that weight directly. It guides motion; the springs carry the load.
When the door is out of balance, the opener cannot move it safely and the door may stop before closing.
Limit Settings and Operator Programming Problems
Operators rely on travel limits. These settings tell the system where the floor is located.
In this case, the door may be operating normally, but the operator’s position settings are no longer calibrated.
If limits shift, the operator believes the door hit an obstacle before reaching the ground.
Power interruptions, aging components, and vibration can change these settings gradually. You may notice the door stopping two inches above the floor or reversing randomly.
Before assuming failure, confirm the door path is clear and unobstructed. Then a technician can properly recalibrate the travel limits.
Weather, Seals, and Floor Conditions
Cold climates add a unique complication: ice adhesion.
Moisture freezes to the bottom edge and anchors the door to the slab. The operator senses abnormal resistance at the bottom of travel and reverses instead of forcing the door closed.
If the bottom edge looks stuck or the concrete is wet, avoid forcing the system. Clearing the threshold and verifying the sealing material remains flexible often restores operation. If your facility struggles with drafts or freezing thresholds, it helps to understand that the bottom door seal should compress evenly against the floor across the entire opening.
When to Schedule Service for a Garage Door That Won’t Close
If a garage door won’t close after you confirm sensors are clear and no visible obstruction exists, stop cycling the operator. Continued attempts usually worsen the condition.
Commercial doors involve:
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high-tension springs
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monitored safety devices
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electrical controls
Those components require trained service.
For property managers and maintenance teams needing dependable operation, commercial overhead door repair and adjustment helps keep entrances secure and operational throughout the workday. Our technicians routinely diagnose operator faults, alignment issues, and safety device failures in one visit.
How We Approach Closure Problems
At Facility Door Solutions, we don’t immediately replace parts. Instead, we inspect the entire overhead door assembly: tracks, balance, safety systems, and controls.
In many cases, a misaligned track, worn seal, or out-of-balance spring creates symptoms that look like operator failure. Addressing only what’s obvious can leave the underlying cause unresolved.
We focus on restoring reliable operation so deliveries, staff movement, and building security continue uninterrupted.
Contact Facility Door Solutions
If your garage door won’t close, we can help you narrow down the cause quickly and safely. Facility Door Solutions supports commercial properties throughout southern and central Maine, including warehouses, municipal buildings, and service facilities.
Call to schedule service and keep your building secure before downtime spreads to operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Commercial managers ask similar questions when doors stop working. Here are the most common ones.
A safety device is stopping it. Sensors, monitored edges, or resistance signal the operator something is in the opening, so it automatically reverses.
Usually the safety sensors are blocked, dirty, or misaligned. The operator thinks something is in the path and prevents full closure.
The system detected resistance. Debris, a worn bottom seal, or track binding increases closing pressure and triggers the reversal feature.
No. Repeated cycling can damage cables, springs, and the operator. Stop using the door and schedule service. Why won't my garage door close when I press the button?
Why won't my garage door close all the way?
Why does my garage door start closing then go back up?
Should I keep trying to close it with the opener?