How do I secure my garage if the door won't close?

Focus on securing the house rather than forcing the garage door. If the door is stuck open, crooked or partway down, leave it where it is, keep people and pets away from it, and lock the interior door between the garage and your home if you can reach it without passing under or beside the damaged door. Then call (916) 838-8182 and tell us the garage is unsecured. A half-open door is an easy way in, so those calls go ahead of routine work.

What not to do

• Do not pull the red emergency release cord. If a spring or cable has failed, the door can drop as soon as it is disconnected from the opener.
• Do not force the door down by hand or keep pressing the wall button.
• Do not prop the door with boards or a ladder, or park under it.
• Do not count on unplugging the opener. An opener with battery backup can still run.

Small steps that help

• Move bikes, tools and other valuables out of sight, but only from areas well away from the door.
• Turn on outside and garage lights.
• If you have to leave, let a neighbor know the garage is open.

When the door may just be blocked

If the door is undamaged and runs smoothly but reverses before it closes, the cause is often the safety sensors or something in its path, not a broken part. See why a door goes back up before it touches the ground. If you heard a bang, see a loose cable or the door is tilted, treat it as damage and wait for a technician.

Read more

• Emergency garage door repair
• Garage door won't close
• Garage door stuck halfway

Related questions

• Do you repair garage doors at night or on weekends?
• What counts as an emergency garage door repair?
• How quickly can a technician get to me?
• Do you offer same-day garage door repair?

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