Why Your Overhead Door Won’t Open — and What to Do About It

Why Your Overhead Door Won’t Open — and What to Do About It

It’s 7:00 AM. Your team’s ready to load trucks. But your overhead door won’t open. Now you’ve got a lineup of forklifts and a rising sense of frustration.

We see this all the time — from distribution centres to small repair garages, a stuck overhead door can cost thousands in downtime and missed deliveries. The good news? Most issues are predictable, preventable, and fixable. Here's what you need to know.

1. Electrical Problems: The Most Common Culprit

If your overhead door is powered, electrical issues are often the first place to look — especially after a storm, power outage, or maintenance work.

Signs of an electrical issue:

• Wall switch or remote doesn’t respond

• No motor noise at all

• Breaker trips when trying to operate

What to do:

• Check your power supply and breakers

• Look for disconnected or frayed wiring

• Reset the breaker or manual disconnect if safe to do so

At ELDS, we’ve handled dozens of calls where a simple power reset brought the door back to life. But when the wiring’s compromised or the operator's compromised, we’re equipped to repair or replace on the spot.

2. Broken Torsion Springs or Counterbalance System Failure

If you hear a loud bang before your door refuses to open, it’s likely a broken spring. In industrial sectional doors, the torsion spring is what lifts the heavy weight. If it breaks, the operator can’t lift the door — or worse, tries and burns out.

🔎 Signs of spring failure:

• Door starts to move but then stops

• Door is extremely heavy to lift manually

• Visible separation in the spring

What to do:

• Do not try to force it open

• Mark the door as out of service

• Call a professional for safe spring replacement

ELDS always stocks common replacement parts on our service trucks, so most door failures can be fixed the same day — no need to wait on parts.

3. Manual Chain Hoist or Lock Jammed

Not every door is powered. If you have a manual or chain-operated door, check that the chain is free and that the locking mechanism hasn’t seized.

Also check:

• The chain isn’t off-track

• There’s no padlock or latch still engaged

• The interior guide tracks are free from debris
  

This is especially common in older garages or outdoor installations where ice and rust interfere with operation.

4. Obstructions in the Tracks or Guides

Even a small object in the door’s track can prevent smooth operation. In the winter, ice build-up or a loose bolt can cause binding — leading the operator to trip or jam entirely.

We’ve found everything from:

• Loose lag bolts

• Ice chunks

• Pallet wrap

• Misaligned rollers
  

Tip: If your door only opens partway, check both vertical tracks and hinges for debris or warping.

5. Failed Motor or Burnt-Out Operator

If the motor is making noise but not moving the door — or making a grinding or buzzing sound — the operator may have burned out or become unresponsive.

This usually happens:

• After a power surge

• From overuse or poor maintenance

• If the door is misaligned or obstructed and the motor tries too hard
  

Important: A failing operator can quickly damage other components. Don’t keep hitting the button — call a tech instead.

6. Safety Sensor Misalignment or Lockout

Many modern overhead doors have photo eyes or interlock sensors that prevent the door from operating if something’s in the way — or if the system thinks there is.

What causes sensor lockouts?

• Dirt or debris blocking the sensor

• Sensors knocked out of alignment

• Wiring to the sensor damaged by forklift traffic

ELDS techs often adjust sensor positions during PM visits — especially in high-traffic warehouses where this issue can cause repeat downtime.

When to Call a Pro

If you’ve checked the basics — power, obstructions, and visible damage — and the door still won’t open, it’s time to bring in a professional.

A technician can:

• Diagnose electrical or mechanical failure

• Repair or replace springs, cables, motors

• Test the safety sensors and operator

• Inspect the full counterbalance system

• Ensure the door is balanced and safe to use

Our ELDS team is trained to work on sectional, rolling steel, high-speed fabric, and fire-rated doors — and we service sites across Ontario with emergency and same-day response.

Why Regular Maintenance Prevents This

Here’s the truth: Most stuck door calls we respond to were preventable.

A preventative maintenance program ensures:

• Springs are tensioned and inspected

• Operators are tested for load

• Tracks are cleaned and lubricated

• Sensors are tested for alignment

• Worn components are replaced before failure
  

If your door is critical to operations, schedule PM quarterly or biannually — depending on usage.

Need Fast Help?

ELDS offers 24/7 emergency response for stuck or damaged doors. Whether it’s a broken spring or failed operator, we’ll get your doors open and your operation moving again — with minimal downtime.

Ready to get help now? Contact ELDS for same-day overhead door service in Ontario — or ask about our preventative maintenance plans to avoid this next time.