It has happened to most of us. One morning you’re leaving for work and suddenly, your garage door doesnt want to open. However, you can hear the motor running. You then wonder what on earth could be causing this issue. In this article, we will answer the question; “Why does my garage door motor run but the chain doesn’t move”?
Why Does My Garage Door Opener Hum But the Door Does Not Move?
There could be a variety of reasons why your motor is humming and seems to be alive but the garage door itself is not moving. While you could potentially self-diagnose the issue, it is best to consult a garage door expert as they will have the proper knowledge in order to diagnose and fix the problem without causing further damage or injury. Without further ado, let’s jump into the possible problems!
- Broken Chain: The chain is what connects the motor to the garage door and ultimately moves it up and down. If the garage door’s chain is broken or disconnected, the garage door will not be able to open. This is a relatively common cause of this issue.
- Loose or Worn Chain: A loose or worn chain is notorious for causing the garage door not to open. This is because such a chain will continuously slip or even jump off of the gears. Without the chain being aligned or having tension the garage door will not open. The solution to this is to replace or tighten the chain, depending on the state of the chain.
- Too Tight Chain: While a worn chain could be caused by normal wear and tear, it could also be due to a chain that was wound too tight. This would have caused the garage door opener to struggle with opening and closing the door from day one. This would have also put a high amount of tension on the chain and caused it to move down and grind down which would have caused the chain to wear prematurely.
- Obstructed Chain: If you cannot see anything visibly wrong with the garage door chain, there might be something obstructing or blocking the chain. There could be a number of things that could block the chain from an object that has gotten lodged, to a build-up of debris. This will ultimately prevent the chain from turning and moving the door.
- Malfunctioning Motor: If there is nothing wrong with the chain, then the problem could very well lie with the motor itself. Your motor might be able to run, but could be failing to turn the chain. It is difficult to determine what could cause the motor to malfunction and it is likely that a professional will then have to diagnose the issue and either fix the problem or replace the motor.
- Faulty Gearbox: Another possible cause could be a faulty gearbox. The gearbox is responsible for transmitting the power emitted by the motor to the garage door chain. There could be a multitude of reasons that cause the gearbox to fail. In this case, it is best to consult a professional as the gearbox will have to be repaired or replaced.
At Adams Doors we specialise in installing, maintaining, and fixing garage doors. If your garage door motor runs but the chain doesn’t move, you can contact us as we will be more than happy to take a look at what could be causing the problem and fix the issue.
