Reasons your Garage Door Keeps Going Back Up

The job of the garage door is to protect the garage as well as your home while also enhancing the curb appeal of the home. As technology has advanced, garage doors have also transformed: from manual doors to automatic doors. Despite all the advantages of an automatic garage door, it comes with a few drawbacks. A garage door that keeps going back up in one of them. 

There can be a lot of reasons your garage door keeps going back up. The most common problem is when something is blocking the path of the garage door. Next, the logic board may be worn down, the limit switch might require an adjustment. Also, the travel distance of the garage door might be set too short or the sensors might have some issues. 

Let’s take a detailed look at why your garage door is continuously going back up.

Why your garage door keeps going back up?

Suppose you are going out one day and are closing your garage door. But instead of closing all the way down, the garage door just closes partially and goes back up. You try multiple times, but the same thing keeps happening. You can not leave your house like this as it is a major security threat as anyone can get into your home without any issues. 

So, why does your garage door keeps coming back up? Here are a few possible reasons:  

1. Blockage

One of the most common reasons the door of your garage keeps going back up is when something is blocking its path. Automatic garage doors have sensors near their bottom that pick up anything that blocks the way of the door. If there is something in the way of the door when it is closing, the door will not close all the way and will go back up.

2. Worn-down Logic Board

Like all other machines, the door openers of automatic garage doors also have a logic board. And like every other logic board, the logic boards of the garage doors can also be worn down due to age. If the garage door’s logic board is not functioning properly, it will not close fully and will keep going back up. 

3. The limit switch needs adjusting

The limit switch is the thing that determines where your garage door will stop when it is closed or opened. If the limit switch is not properly adjusted, the garage door closes halfway and then opens. If that is the case, you will need to check your limit switch’s settings and adjust them accordingly. You will need a flathead screwdriver to complete this task.

4. The travel distance is too short

Another reason your garage door keeps bouncing back up is that the travel distance of your garage doors is way too short. The travel distance is the distance your garage door will have to travel before it stops. If your set the distance too short, it will not close all the way in and then will keep going back up.

Further, you can read Why won’t my garage door close all the way? 

5. Faulty or misaligned sensors

Another major reason your garage door starts to close and then reverses is when the sensors near the door’s bottom start acting up. The sensors may malfunction for a couple of reasons. First, the sensors are not aligned properly, and they keep picking each other up as objects blocking the door’s path instead of actual objects. As a result, the door goes back up.

The second reason is when your garage door sensors are dirty or have something like spiders inside them. This will cause them to be inefficient and even damaged. A damaged sensor will not pick up objects properly and will start acting up. This will cause the garage door to go back up after only closing partially. 

How to fix a garage door that keeps reversing

If you see your garage door goes halfway down and then back up, you should not waste time and act to fix it. Here are a few ways to do it. 

1. Check for blockage:

The easiest way to solve this issue is to check for the most obvious problem, anything blocking the path of the door. Since garage door sensors can pick up even the smallest of obstacles, you will need to clean everything that can block the path of a garage door.

2. Replace the logic board:

Since worn-down and malfunctioning logic boards are another reason for a garage door closing halfway before going back up, you need to fix the issue as soon as possible. The best course of action will be to replace a malfunctioning logic board than to fix it.

3. Adjust the limit switch:

Limit switches not being adjusted properly is another reason for a garage door not closing fully. Take a flathead screwdriver and fix the setting of the limit switch so that the door closes all the way down.

4. Adjust the travel distance:

Try adjusting the travel distance of your garage door. Since a short travel distance causes the garage door to close only halfway before it starts to go back up, make sure that you lengthen it. The best way to measure the travel distance is to measure the height of the garage door and set the travel distance accordingly.

5. Fix the sensors:

If your sensors are misaligned, they will keep the garage door from closing all the way. You should check if the sensors of your garage door are aligned, and if not, adjust them accordingly. Also, check the state of your garage door sensors and replace them if necessary.

Final Words

The best way to fix a garage door that doesn’t go all the way down is to find out the reasons causing it. Once you know why your garage door keeps going back up, you can easily fix the issue. You can either follow the DIY procedure or if you are living in Owing Mills, Baltimore, give us a call. 

FAQ

1. Why one sensor is green and one red on the garage door?

The reason one of your garage door sensors is green and one is red has nothing to do with the condition of the sensors. The green sensor means that the sensors have power and the red light means the path of the garage door is clear. 

2. How much does it cost to replace a garage door sensor?

It’s best to replace the garage door sensors if they go bad than to repair them. In general, you will have to pay around $180 to install a new garage door sensor. 

3. How do I know if my garage sensors are aligned?

If your garage door sensors are aligned properly, the LED lights in them will not blink when the doors are closed. On the other hand, the LED lights will keep blinking if the garage door is closing or if the sensors are misaligned.