What's wrong with my garage door?
Answer a quick question or two to find the likely problem, whether the door is safe to use, and what to do right now.
Car trapped or door stuck open? Skip the questions and call now.
Call now · (343) 633-2631Most likely a broken spring
A loud bang followed by a door that won't lift almost always means a spring has snapped. It's the most common garage door failure, and a cold snap is often what finishes off an old spring.
What to do now
- Unplug the opener so nobody presses the button.
- Don't try to lift the door, and never adjust a spring yourself. Without the spring the door is extremely heavy and can drop suddenly.
- If your car is trapped, tell the company it's urgent. Many Ottawa companies offer same-day service.
When you call, press1for broken spring.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
Published Ottawa price guides list a single torsion spring at roughly $200–$400 installed and a pair at roughly $280–$550. Sources in our cost guide · Broken garage door spring in Ottawa
Most likely a door off track or a broken cable
A crooked door, rollers out of the track, or a loose cable means the lifting system has failed on one side. The door can shift or fall.
What to do now
- Leave the door where it is and unplug the opener.
- Keep people, pets and cars clear of the door.
- Don't force the rollers back into the track. The cables are under tension.
When you call, press3for off track, stuck or broken cable.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
Published Ottawa guides list track realignment at roughly $125–$400 and cable replacement at roughly $150–$350. Sources in our cost guide · Garage door off track or cable broken in Ottawa
Most likely an opener problem
If the springs look whole but the opener hums, clicks or runs without moving the door, the problem is usually inside the opener: a stripped gear, a worn drive, or failing electronics.
What to do now
- Stop pressing the button. Running an opener against a door that won't move can burn out the motor.
- Don't pull the red emergency release cord while the door is open. If a spring has failed, the door can drop.
- Check that the opener is plugged in and the breaker hasn't tripped. If that isn't it, it's a job for a technician.
When you call, press2for opener problem.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
Published Ottawa guides list opener repairs from under $100 for sensor fixes up to roughly $450, and new openers from roughly $250 to $950 installed depending on type. Sources in our cost guide · Garage door opener repair in Ottawa
Most likely the safety sensors
A door that starts closing and then reverses is almost always the two safety sensors near the floor: blocked, dirty or knocked out of line. In winter, snow and salt spray are common culprits.
What to do now
- Clear anything between the two sensors and wipe the lenses.
- Check that both sensor lights are steady, not blinking or off.
- Need it closed right now? On most openers, holding the wall button down until the door is fully closed overrides the sensors. Watch that nothing is underneath.
- Still reversing? A technician can realign or replace the sensors.
When you call, press2for opener problem.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
Published Ottawa guides list opener repairs from under $100 for sensor fixes up to roughly $450, and new openers from roughly $250 to $950 installed depending on type. Sources in our cost guide · Garage door opener repair in Ottawa
Most likely the remote, wall button or opener electronics
When the door itself is fine but the controls are unreliable, the cause is usually a weak remote battery, a power problem, or the opener's receiver or logic board.
What to do now
- Try fresh batteries in the remote.
- Make sure the opener is plugged in and the breaker hasn't tripped.
- If the wall button doesn't work either, the opener itself probably needs a technician.
When you call, press2for opener problem.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
Published Ottawa guides list opener repairs from under $100 for sensor fixes up to roughly $450, and new openers from roughly $250 to $950 installed depending on type. Sources in our cost guide · Garage door opener repair in Ottawa
Most likely worn rollers, hinges or hardware
Grinding, squealing, jerking or slow movement usually comes from worn rollers, dry hinges or loose hardware. On heavier doors it can also mean the springs or opener are under strain.
What to do now
- Have it looked at before something breaks. A tune-up usually means lubricating, tightening and replacing worn rollers.
- If you see a gap in a spring or a frayed cable, stop using the door.
- Grinding from the opener itself is a separate problem worth mentioning on the call.
When you call, press5for anything else.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
Door frozen to the ground
Ice between the bottom seal and the driveway is a common Ottawa winter problem. Forcing it is how seals tear and openers burn out.
What to do now
- Stop using the opener until the door is free.
- Gently free the bottom seal with a plastic scraper or warm (not boiling) water, then dry the area.
- If it still won't move, or the seal is torn, call for a technician.
When you call, press5for anything else.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
It may be time for a new door
Repeated repairs, cracked or badly dented panels, and cold drafts are the usual signs. In Ottawa's climate, an insulated door also keeps an attached garage noticeably warmer.
What to do now
- Get more than one quote. Prices vary a lot with size, insulation and style.
- Ask what's included: removal of the old door, new tracks and springs, the bottom seal, and the warranty on the door and the labour.
When you call, press4for new garage door.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
Published guides list a new single steel door at roughly $800–$3,500 installed and an insulated double door at roughly $2,200–$6,500, depending on style and insulation. Sources in our cost guide · New garage door installation in Ottawa
Hard to tell from here. A technician can check.
Some problems need someone to look at the door in person. Describing what you see and hear on the call helps the company come prepared.
What to do now
- Don't keep pressing the opener button.
- Don't pull the red emergency release cord while the door is open.
- If the door is crooked or hanging, or you hear grinding, stop using it.
When you call, press5for anything else.
Free for callers. You're put straight through to an independent local company.
This checker points to the most likely cause, not a diagnosis. Only a technician who sees the door can say for sure. Ottawa Garage Door Help is a free referral service and doesn't do repairs. See how it works, or compare prices in the Ottawa repair cost guide.
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