What Salinas Homeowners Can Check When Your Garage Door Won’t Open or Close
If your garage door won’t open or close, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common problems Salinas area homeowners run into, especially with our coastal air, humidity, and occasional salt buildup that can wear down and rust metal parts.
Let’s look at a few possible causes and what you can safely check before calling a professional.
1. Check the Power First
It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often the issue is power-related.
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Make sure your garage door opener is plugged in.
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If the outlet works, check for a tripped circuit breaker.
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If your opener has backup batteries, make sure they’re not drained.
In many Salinas homes, power surges or outages during storms can reset openers without you realizing it.
2. Look at the Safety Sensors
If your garage door starts to close but then reverses, the safety sensors are likely the culprit.
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Check that both sensors near the floor are aligned and clear of dust or spiderwebs.
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A blinking light on either sensor usually means they’re misaligned or blocked. Wiping the lenses with a soft cloth and gently realigning them often fixes the issue.
3. Listen for Strange Noises
A grinding or clicking sound might mean a broken spring or loose chain. Springs do a lot of heavy lifting, and in coastal areas like Salinas, they can weaken faster due to moisture and salt air.
Important: Don’t try to repair a broken spring yourself because it’s under high tension and can cause serious injury. Call a trained garage door technician.
4. Check the Remote and Wall Control
If your wall button works but the remote doesn’t, you might just need a battery replacement or to reprogram the remote. If neither works, your opener’s circuit board may have failed which is especially common in older units exposed to garage humidity.
5. Inspect the Tracks and Rollers
If the door gets stuck halfway or looks crooked, the rollers or tracks might be bent or dirty.
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Use a soft brush to clean out dirt or rust.
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Lubricate the rollers with a silicone-based spray (not grease). In Salinas’s damp air, metal parts can rust or corrode faster than usual, so seasonal lubrication goes a long way.
When to Call a Professional
If your door still won’t open after these steps or if you notice broken cables, bent panels, or loud snapping sounds, it’s best to call a local garage door expert.
Professionals can safely inspect springs, balance the door, and test opener limits.
Local Tip for Salinas Homeowners:
Because Salinas is close to the coast, try scheduling a garage door tune-up at least once a year. A technician can clean, lubricate, and tighten all moving parts before salt air takes its toll.
Need help right away?
If your garage door won’t open or close in Salinas or Monterey County, a local same-day repair service can usually get your door moving again within hours.
Call (831) 219-8648 for same day service or contact us online with any questions about your garage door.
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