Garage Door Won’t Open? Here’s What Might Be Wrong
If your garage door will not open, the most likely causes are a broken spring, a dead opener or remote, or a door that is locked or off its track. A snapped spring is the most common — and the door should never be forced.
First: is it the spring or the opener?
A quick clue: if you heard a loud bang recently and the door will not budge, it is almost certainly a broken spring. If the opener is silent or unresponsive, the problem is more likely power, the motor, or the remote. Trying the wall button and a fresh remote battery helps narrow it down.
Common reasons a garage door won’t open
- A broken torsion or extension spring
- No power to the opener, or a failed motor or logic board
- A dead remote battery or lost programming
- The manual release cord was pulled, disengaging the trolley
- The door is locked
- The door is off its track or a roller has failed
- In winter, the door is frozen to the ground
What not to do
Do not force an unresponsive door with the opener or by hand — if a spring or cable has failed, forcing it can cause damage or injury. Spring and cable repairs in particular should always be left to a technician.
Foremost is a family-owned garage door company serving Lockport and the Southland since 1941. Need emergency repair? Call (708) 708-9525 — same-day, 7 days a week, 7 AM to 9 PM. Learn more about our emergency repair or our garage door service in Lockport.
Frequently asked questions
Why won’t my garage door open in the cold?
The door may be frozen to the ground, or a cold-weakened spring may have broken. Never force a frozen or unresponsive door — call for a same-day repair.
My remote and wall button both do nothing — what now?
Check that the opener has power and the wall lock is off. If it is still dead, the opener motor or board may have failed and needs a technician.
Can you open a door with a broken spring?
A technician can safely, but you should not try. The door is heavy and unbalanced with a broken spring and can fall.
Written by Adam Wright, co-owner of Foremost Garage Door Repair in Mokena, IL. Published September 28, 2026.