You press the button, the opener hums or clicks and the door stays exactly where it is. Maybe it lifts a few inches and drops back down. When a garage door won't open, the cause is usually one of a few problems, and some of them are not safe to fix yourself. At Primos Garage Doors, a family-owned company since 1998, our philosophy is simple: we educate, not upsell. This guide covers what you can check safely, what to leave to a professional and what to expect when you call us.
What Are the Most Common Reasons a Garage Door Won't Open?
Our technicians see the same few causes again and again:
A broken spring.
Spring failures are among the most common issues we address. The springs work with the door's counterbalance system, so when one breaks, a heavy door may not lift at all.
Impact or track damage.
We regularly work on doors that have been struck by a vehicle. Panels, tracks, rollers and hardware can all be damaged, and the damage is not always obvious.
An opener or remote problem.
Sometimes the door is fine and the issue is the opener, the remote or the wall control.
What Can You Safely Check Yourself?
A few quick checks will tell you a lot, and none of them put you near the parts under tension:
- Check that the opener has power and the remote or wall control responds
- Look at the door from a safe distance for a crooked edge, a gap in a spring or a loose cable
- Look at the tracks and rollers for visible bends or damage
- Notice whether the door feels unusually heavy if it is already open a few inches
- Write down what happened just before the problem started, such as a bump from a vehicle
If you see any of these signs, stop using the opener. Repeated attempts can add damage.
Why Does a Broken Spring Stop the Door From Opening?
A garage door is heavy. The spring system counterbalances that weight so the opener, or your hands, can move the door easily. When a spring breaks, the balance is gone and the door becomes very difficult or impossible to lift. We use these calls to help homeowners understand garage door weight and counterbalance systems, because once you understand what the spring does, it is easy to see why spring repair is a job for professionals. Our garage door springs page explains how we approach it.
What Should You Never Try Yourself?
Springs and cables are components under significant tension. Our technicians are trained in installation, repairs, equipment operation and workplace safety, with an emphasis on OSHA-related safety practices when working with heavy overhead doors and components under tension. Because those parts are under that much tension, we ask homeowners not to loosen brackets, release tension or lift a door they suspect has a broken spring.
Could a Vehicle Impact Be the Real Problem?
Often, yes. A door that was bumped by a car may look fine from a distance and still be out of alignment. Impact jobs can involve damaged panels, tracks, rollers, hardware and other components that are not immediately obvious to the customer. When we inspect, we look at the whole door system, not just the part that stopped working, and we show you what we find. If the door has come off its track or a single section is damaged, our guide to replacing one garage door panel explains the options.
What Happens When You Call Primos?
You reach a family-run business, not a national call center or a franchise. You speak with people who are involved in our day-to-day operations. When a technician arrives, we take the time to explain what is happening with your door, why a repair is necessary and what options you have, instead of simply handing you an estimate. One customer wrote on our site, "Mark was there to explain to me what needed to be done and after the job was done, he showed me all the old parts he replaced and fixed." Read more on our reviews page or see why homeowners choose Primos.
Do You Offer Emergency and Same-Day Garage Door Repair?
Yes. We offer 24/7 emergency garage door repair, including weekends and holidays, and same-day service whenever scheduling allows. Our Longmont office on Nelson Road keeps us close to homes across the city, and you can learn more on our Longmont service area page.
Why Do Longmont Customers Keep Calling Us Back?
We have built relationships with thousands of customers throughout Colorado, and about 85% of our business comes from returning customers. We work from four core values: Faith, Family, Fitness and Finance. We believe in taking care of people and standing behind our work.
Call (720) 437-8951 or request service online. Residential service calls start at $49.99, and we answer emergency calls 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my garage door open when the opener runs?
A broken spring is one of the most common causes. The opener can run while the door stays put, because the door is too heavy to lift without its counterbalance. A technician can find the cause safely.
Is a garage door that won't open in an emergency?
It can be. If the door is stuck closed with a vehicle inside, or stuck open and leaving your garage unsecured, call us any time. We answer 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
Can I lift the door by hand if the spring is broken?
We don't recommend it. The door is heavy and the spring system is under significant tension, so a suspected spring failure should be handled by a professional.
Do you offer same-day garage door repair in Longmont?
Yes, whenever scheduling allows. Call early in the day and we will tell you what is available.
How much is a service call?
Residential service calls start at $49.99, and commercial service calls start at $98.
Will you try to sell me a new door?
No. Our philosophy is that we educate, not upsell. We explain what we find, why a repair is necessary and what options you have.
Do you only work on residential garage doors?
No. We also handle commercial overhead doors, rolling steel doors, agricultural and ranch properties, airplane hangars, boathouses, dock levelers and electric gates.