Why Your Garage Door Keeps Reversing (And How to Fix It)

If your garage door starts to close and then reverses before reaching the ground, it's triggering one of its safety systems. Here's how to diagnose the cause: 1. Sensor Misalignment This is the #1 cause. The photoelectric sensors at the base of the door must face each other perfectly. Look for blinking indicator lights on the sensors. Loosen the mounting bracket and realign until both lights are solid. 2. Obstruction in the Path Something is breaking the sensor beam. Check for debris, a spider web, or an object blocking the path. 3. Close Force Too Low The opener has an adjustable force setting. If it's too sensitive, the door reverses when it meets slight resistance (like a bump in the floor). Locate the force adjustment knobs on the opener and increase the close force slightly. 4. Travel Limit Set Too Long If the door thinks the floor is further down than it actually is, it reverses when it hits the ground. Adjust the down travel limit on the opener. 5. Damaged Rollers or Tracks If the door binds or sticks on the way down, it reverses. Check for bent tracks or broken rollers. Still reversing after all of these? Call us for a diagnosis.