Garage Door How-To Guides

How do I know if my garage door spring is broken?

Stand inside the garage and look at the spring (or springs) mounted on the shaft above the door. A healthy spring is a single continuous coil. A broken spring has a visible 1–2 inch gap where it snapped.

Other confirming signs: the door feels extremely heavy if you disconnect the opener and try to lift it; the opener hums but can't raise the door; you heard a loud "bang" from the garage recently. Full guide with photos →

Don't operate the door until it's repaired — the opener can be damaged and the door can drop suddenly.

Why does my garage door open halfway and stop?

Usually one of three things: (1) a broken spring making the door too heavy for the opener to keep lifting — the opener hits its force limit and gives up; (2) a worn roller or bent track creating resistance; or (3) the up-limit switch is set to stop the door halfway. Open the garage, look for a gap in the spring first (that's the 80% case). If the spring is intact, try the up-limit adjustment on the opener.

How do I reset my LiftMaster garage door opener after a power outage?

For most LiftMaster openers post-2010, there's nothing to do — they retain their settings automatically. Just press the wall button and the door should operate normally. If it doesn't:

1. Unplug the opener from the ceiling outlet.
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Plug it back in. You should hear a short beep and see the LED come on.
4. Press the wall button. Door should work.

If you have battery backup and the backup is depleted, the opener may refuse to operate until the battery recharges (~24 hours on grid power) or you replace the battery. The battery has a lifespan of about 3 years.

How do I program a garage door keypad?

Most residential keypads follow the same general process:

1. On the opener head, press and hold the "learn" button (usually a small colored button under the opener light cover) for about 6 seconds until the learn LED lights up.
2. Within 30 seconds, enter your desired PIN on the keypad and press ENTER.
3. The opener will click or the LED will blink, confirming the programming.
4. Test: enter the PIN, press ENTER. Door should operate.

Exact button locations vary by brand. For LiftMaster/Chamberlain the learn button is yellow, orange, red, or purple depending on model year. For Genie it's labeled with three horizontal lines. If yours is different, check the sticker on the opener's back panel.

How do I manually open a garage door when the power is out?

Every residential garage door opener has an emergency release cord — a red handle hanging from the opener rail, usually about 6 feet in the air.

1. Make sure the door is fully closed (safer to release from closed position).
2. Pull the red cord straight down until you hear a click. This disengages the trolley from the rail.
3. Lift the door manually. It should lift easily if the springs are in good shape.
4. To re-engage: lift the door to the fully-closed position, pull the red cord toward the door (if it has a hinged release), or press the wall button until the trolley re-attaches (newer models).

Important: if the door feels extremely heavy when you try to lift it manually, you have a broken spring. Do not try to force it. Close it, leave it, and call for emergency service.

Why does my garage door reverse when it hits the floor?

Two most likely causes: (1) the down-limit switch is set too low, so the opener thinks the door hit an obstruction; (2) the close-force setting is too sensitive. Both adjustments are typically on the opener head — look for small labeled screws or a digital programming menu. Back off the down-limit until the door stops just as it touches the floor, and bump the close force up a quarter turn at a time until it closes consistently. See our full reversal diagnostic.

How do I align my garage door photo eyes?

The two photo-eye sensors mounted about 6" above the floor on either side of your door must face each other exactly. Each has a small LED — one will flash (or be off) if they're misaligned.

1. Wipe both lenses with a dry cloth.
2. Find the one with the flashing or dim LED.
3. Loosen its wing nut mount with your fingers.
4. Slowly tilt the sensor until the LED becomes solid steady.
5. Tighten the wing nut, being careful not to knock the sensor out of alignment.
6. Test by pressing the wall button — the door should close normally.

How do I lubricate a garage door?

Annually. Use a lithium-based garage door lubricant spray — never WD-40, which actually strips existing grease and dries out rollers. Apply to:

• All 10–12 rollers (a light coat on the stem, not the roller face)
• All hinges (pin only — avoid the painted surfaces)
• The torsion springs themselves (a light coat, for rust prevention)
• The center bearing and end bearing plates
• The opener rail where the trolley rides (chain drive only — belt drives shouldn't be lubed)

Don't lube the tracks themselves — rollers should roll, not slide. Lubing the track causes the rollers to drag.

How do I re-program a garage door remote to my car (HomeLink)?

HomeLink programming steps by vehicle:

1. Park the car with the front bumper ~5 feet from the garage.
2. Inside the car, press and hold the two outer HomeLink buttons until the HomeLink LED begins flashing rapidly (~20 seconds).
3. Within 30 seconds, hold your original remote about 2 inches from the HomeLink buttons. Press and hold the remote button AND the HomeLink button you want to program, simultaneously.
4. When the HomeLink LED changes from slow to rapid flash, release both.
5. If your opener has rolling-code security (almost all modern ones do), you have one more step: press and hold the "learn" button on the opener head (yellow/purple/etc.) for about 2 seconds, then within 30 seconds, press the programmed HomeLink button in your car twice. Opener should click and accept.

Why does my garage door go up but not down?

Almost always the photo eyes (safety sensors). The opener will always open — but it won't close if the photo eyes can't see each other. Wipe both lenses, make sure both LEDs are solid-steady, check that neither has been bumped out of alignment, and check the wires at the opener. If both LEDs are perfect and the door still won't close, the close-force may be too sensitive or the down-limit switch needs adjustment. Full guide: Why your garage door won't close →