Check the photo eyes
Two small sensors sit near the floor on either side of the opening. They must see each other. A cobweb, a leaf, a snow bank, a bike wheel or a bracket knocked out of line will all stop the door. Clean both lenses and line them up until the indicator lights are steady.
Look for something in the door's path
Obvious, but it catches people constantly. Check the full width of the threshold, including ice buildup along the floor in winter.
Check the lock and the manual release
If someone pulled the emergency release cord, the trolley is disconnected from the door. Most openers re-engage by pulling the cord toward the door and running the opener until it clicks back in.
Watch for reversing at the same spot every time
If it reverses at an identical point, something physical is binding there: a bent track section, a seized roller or a hinge that is catching. That needs looking at, not a force adjustment.
Check the remote and wall button separately
If the wall button closes it but the remote does not, the door is fine. It is a remote or receiver issue.
When it is not a five-minute fix
A slack cable, a gap in the spring, a crooked door or a door that will not stay put when you lift it by hand are all mechanical failures. Leave it and call. A door that cannot close is a security problem, and we take those as emergency calls.
When to hand it over
If any of this points at springs, cables or a door that has gone out of balance, that is the point to stop. Supreme Garage Doors Repair Services covers emergency garage door repair and every other garage door service across New Hampshire, with same-day slots most days and a line answered 24 hours at (888) 904-6236.