When you are ready to leave for the day; you press the button on your garage door remote to get the door opened. You give the remote another tap to close the door as you back the car out, but the door starts a little and then suddenly goes back up.
After a few trials, you realize that your garage door will only completely shut when you hold down the button on the wall switch. Although it is easy to assume that your remote is the problem, this very specific issue is often associated with the garage door itself; the safety sensors at the bottom.
My Garage Door Won’t Close Unless I Hold The Button Down: What to Check
Here are a few things to check out for when your garage door won’t close unless you hold the button down:
Sensor Blockage
A sensor blockage is one of the possible causes of a faulty garage door mechanism, especially for modern garage doors. In this case, the path of the motion sensors may be blocked by any object or even dirt and dust. It’s important to note that garage sensors are meant to prevent any accidents that could happen when, for instance when the garage door closes on top of a car or another object or even kids and pets.
That means if the sensors aren’t functioning, the safety mechanism may be compromised as well. So, check carefully to see if there’s any debris, webs, rocks, or such objects that could be blocking the sensors, and be sure to remove them.
Issues With the Sensor Eyes
As we’ve stated, the motion sensors need to be free from any blockages, even the ones that you wouldn’t consider alarming such as cobwebs. When inspecting the sensors, it is also important to check for any scratches or damages.
Another reason why your garage door is unable to close completely is that the sensor eyes are dirty or they suffer from damage. In most cases, these eyes are more like camera lenses, so be careful when cleaning them. Do not leave the area smudgy or covered in strikes as this would affect the sensor functionality.
In case there are cracks, scratches, or other sorts of damage that cannot be cleared or wiped away, the best option may be to replace the sensors altogether.
Adjust the Sensors
Another possible cause for a faulty garage door mechanism is improper alignment. If both sensors are not positioned and aligned in the same angle and direction, there could be some issues in their functioning, simply due to a lack of connection between them.
In fact, if you reach out to the service team and state that your garage door won’t close unless you hold the button down, the first direction they will give you is to inspect the alignment of the sensors.
To resolve this, start by checking if both sensors are positioned at the same height from the ground. You can do this by using a level, preferably a laser type so that it can indicate if there’s any misalignment between the two sensors.
Once you’ve aligned the sensors, try closing the garage door without pressing the button. Most sensors come with an indicator that shows that they are functioning.
One is usually green and the other red. So consider adjusting the sensors (one or both) until the desired sign come on. Then remember to fasten the bracket screw to make sure the sensors are properly secured in place. This should fix the issue, but in case it doesn’t, we recommend that you call a professional to help re-adjust the sensor eyes.
Faulty Lock-Out Button
As the name suggests, this particular issue is associated with the mechanism of the lock-out button on your garage door. So if your garage door won’t completely shut unless you hold down the button, it could be that the lock-out button is turned on.
The mechanism will be compromised if this button is engaged and will basically prevent the door from closing effortlessly. To see if there’s a problem with the garage door, consider pressing down the button on the wall. If the light shows that the lock-out button is engaged, you should simply deactivate it.
That said, though, different garage door mechanisms feature different settings and controls. You might want to find a different way to deactivate this lock based on your particular case. If you’re unable to find this control, consider checking the garage door manual or simply contact a professional.
Faulty Garage Door Opener
This is the mechanism that is responsible for opening your garage door. So if the problem is in the sensitivity of the open, you will need to have it adjusted. You can try to resolve this issue by using the emergency release to stop the connection between the opener and the garage door itself. You may want to hire a handyman if you’re not comfortable doing this.
The point here is to check whether the garage door is closing as expected and that both sides are perfectly aligned. If one side is lower or higher than the other, then the problem could be the garage door opener sensitivity.
Garage Door Closing Limit
If your garage door won’t close completely even when you hold the button, it could be due to the door closing limit. This usually occurs when the limit isn’t properly adjusted or when it is set too high from the ground, stopping the door from closing all the way down.
Other than that, there are some security sensors that are quite sensitive in that they can easily keep the door from closing completely, even when there aren’t any objects on the way.
Another possible cause for a faulty garage door mechanism is old and rusty rollers. If that’s the case, consider replacing the rollers or using lubricant to make them move effortlessly.
Wiring Issues
If you want to determine whether the garage door is not opening due to a wiring issue, inspect all the wires around the sensor and inside the garage door motor unit. Any wires sticking out could also cause the problem. You can twist the wire connectors to connect such wires and put them back in place. However, if you are uncomfortable with this kind of task, consider hiring an electrician.