Pro Handyman Blog

Garage Door Opener Hums But Doesn’t Move

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Have you ever pressed the garage door opener button and the motor runs but the door doesn’t move? It could be a couple of different problems, but start with the easiest first.

Cross your fingers that the emergency release has been pulled. This is the handle attached to a short section of rope. It is attached to the carriage and moves along with the door as the carriage moves. If for some reason the opener isn’t working, you can pull the handle and it will disengage from the chain, screw, or belt drive that it is attached to. This will allow you to manually lift the garage door by hand to get your car in or out of the garage. Check to see if this is the case with your garage door opener. If the handle has been pulled you can simply re-engage it by pulling it toward the motor.

If the handle is engaged, you likely have a broken or worn gear inside the motor. You can take off the motor’s cover and look inside. The gears are plastic and the teeth wear down on them. Look for a powdery looking substance on the bottom of the motor’s housing. The broken or worn gear will need to be replaced.