Why does my garage door go back up before it touches the ground?

The opener reverses when it thinks something is in the way. That signal can come from the photo-eye sensors near the floor or from the opener feeling resistance as the door moves. When the door reverses gives a good clue about which one is responsible.

Reverses before it reaches the floor

Check the photo-eyes first. Clear anything from the beam path, wipe both lenses with a soft dry cloth and look at the indicator lights against your model's guide. A bumped bracket, damaged wiring or direct sun on a sensor can also break the beam. If it only happens at one time of day, see why a door won't close in the afternoon.

Touches the floor, then goes back up

If the door makes contact and then reverses, the close travel may be set too far, so the opener reads the floor as an obstruction. A door that binds in the track, has worn rollers or is out of balance can trigger the same response, even with steady sensor lights.

What not to do

• Do not increase the closing force to push the door through resistance.
• Do not tape, unplug or move the sensors out of the doorway.
• Do not hold the wall button down to force a close after a safety fault.

What a visit involves

We test the sensors and the wiring back to the opener, inspect the rollers, track and door balance, and follow the opener's setup procedure for travel and force. Then we test photo-eye protection and contact reversal separately. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee, and you approve a written price before work starts. More on our safety sensor service page.

Read more

• Garage door opener repair
• Safety sensor service
• Garage door won't close

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