Why does my garage door opener hum but the door won't move?

The hum means the opener has power and is trying to run. Something is stopping the motion, either inside the opener or in the door itself. It does not automatically mean you need a new opener.

Common causes

• Broken spring or balance problem: the springs do most of the lifting. With a broken spring the door is too heavy for the opener. Look for a gap in a torsion spring above the door.
• Worn or stripped gear: the motor turns but the drive does not move the trolley.
• Disengaged trolley: if the manual release was pulled, the opener can run without moving the door.
• Motor fault: an internal electrical problem can leave the motor humming without turning.
• Locked door: a manual slide lock left engaged will stop the door.

What to do now

Stop pressing the button. Repeated attempts can overheat the motor and do more damage to the gear or door. Check whether the slide lock is engaged and whether a spring looks broken. If a spring is broken, do not try to lift the door by hand or with the opener, and do not pull the release on an open door, since it can drop. See whether a broken spring can stop a door opening.

How we diagnose it

We inspect both the door and the opener, because the symptoms overlap. Then we quote a repair or replacement based on what actually failed, with a written price before work starts. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee.

Read more

• Garage door opener repair
• Garage door spring replacement

Related questions

• How do I know if my garage door opener needs repair?
• Why isn't my garage door remote working?
• Should I repair my garage door opener or replace it?
• How do I program a garage door remote?
• Can I fix my garage door opener myself?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.