Door Doctor
Pick what your garage door is doing. You'll get the likely causes, the safe checks you can do yourself, and a clear signal for when it's time to call a technician.
Door won't open at all
Likely causes
- A broken spring or cable (often after a loud bang)
- The manual lock or motor release is engaged
- Power to the motor is off or a circuit has tripped
- The motor's logic board or gears have failed
Safe checks you can do
- Check the power point and switchboard
- Make sure the key lock on the door is unlocked
- Look for a gap in the torsion spring or a loose cable. If you see one, stop here
When to call us
If a spring or cable looks broken, do not lift the door by hand. It can weigh more than 100 kg without spring help.
Grinding, squealing or rattling
Likely causes
- Dry or worn rollers and hinges
- Loose fixings vibrating
- Dirt and sand in the guides
- A roller door that has lost tension
Safe checks you can do
- Clean grit out of tracks with a dry cloth
- Tighten visible fixings on brackets (not spring brackets)
- Use a silicone or garage-door-specific lubricant, not grease, on rollers and hinges
When to call us
If the noise is new and loud, or the door judders, book a service before it turns into a breakdown.
Closes, then reverses back up
Likely causes
- Something blocking the safety beams
- Safety beams knocked out of alignment
- A spider web or gecko over a beam lens
- Motor force settings drifted, or the door has become heavy
Safe checks you can do
- Clear anything from under the door
- Wipe both beam lenses and check their lights are steady
- Gently realign a beam if it has been bumped
When to call us
If the beams are clear and it still reverses, the door may be out of balance. A motor fighting a heavy door will fail early.
Remote not working
Likely causes
- Flat remote battery
- Remote has lost its code
- Receiver or aerial fault on the motor
- Interference from nearby devices
Safe checks you can do
- Replace the remote battery
- Try the wall button. If that works, the issue is the remote or receiver
- Try a second remote if you have one
When to call us
If the wall button works but no remote does, we can recode or replace the remotes and check the receiver.
Door crooked or off track
Likely causes
- A snapped lift cable on one side
- A bent track or guide from a vehicle bump
- Broken rollers or hinges
- Wind pushing the curtain out of the guides
Safe checks you can do
- Stop using the door and switch off the motor
- Keep people and pets clear of the doorway
- Do not try to force it back into the track
When to call us
A crooked door is under uneven tension and can fall. This needs a technician.
Roller door heavy to lift
Likely causes
- The drum spring has lost tension over time
- Guides are dirty or bent
- The bottom rail is catching or bent
Safe checks you can do
- Clean and lightly lubricate the guides with silicone spray
- Check nothing is rubbing on the curtain edges
When to call us
Re-tensioning a roller door drum is not a DIY job. The spring is under heavy load and can spin violently.
Motor hums but nothing moves
Likely causes
- A broken spring leaving the door too heavy
- The door is locked
- Stripped gears or a seized door
- A failed capacitor in the motor
Safe checks you can do
- Stop pressing the button so the motor does not burn out
- Check the key lock is undone
- Look for a broken spring or cable
When to call us
Repeated attempts can burn out the motor. Call us and we will find out whether it is the door or the motor.
Power's out, car's inside
Likely causes
- Mains power outage, common in storm season
- Tripped circuit
Safe checks you can do
- Find the release cord or lever on the motor (often a red handle)
- Pull it to disengage the motor, then lift the door by hand
- Re-engage the release when power is back
When to call us
If the door is too heavy to lift by hand, the springs may need attention. Battery backup openers avoid this next time.
Light, water or pests under door
Likely causes
- Worn or missing bottom seal
- Uneven or sloping slab
- Gaps at the sides of a roller curtain
Safe checks you can do
- Check the bottom rubber for splits and flat spots
- Clear debris from the floor at the threshold
When to call us
We fit bottom seals, side brush seals and threshold seals to stop water, draughts and pests.
Storm damage or dented curtain
Likely causes
- Wind pushed the door out of its guides
- Debris impact dented the curtain or panels
- Water reached the motor or electrics
Safe checks you can do
- Do not run the motor if it has been wet
- Keep clear of a bowed or loose door
- Photograph the damage for your insurer
When to call us
We assess storm damage, make doors safe and supply written quotes for insurance claims.
Springs, cables and roller door drums are under high tension. If anything looks broken, stop and call us on (07) 2111 7849. This guide is general information and does not replace an on-site inspection.
Door playing up?
Talk to a technician, not a call centre. Free quotes across the Gold Coast.