Garage Door Won’t Close All the Way? Here’s How to Fix It

Is your garage door not closing all the way? Does your garage door keep coming back up after it hits the floor? You just need to adjust the travel setting on your door opener. But first, you have to learn what that means.

What’s the Garage Door Travel Limit?

The travel controls how far the door goes up and down. Most newer openers have a safety feature that makes the door reverse if it encounters an obstruction.

The garage door travel limit refers to a safety and functionality feature in automatic garage door systems. It consists of two adjustable settings: the “open” and “close” limits. These limits define the maximum points the garage door opener can raise (open limit) or lower (close limit) the door. When the door reaches these pre-set limits, the opener’s motor is signaled to stop operating, ensuring that the door does not travel beyond safe or intended positions. This prevents potential damage to the door, property or people.

If your garage door won’t close all the way, your opener is reading the floor as an obstruction.

How to Adjust the Garage Door Travel

All openers have travel adjustments: Chamberlain and Craftsman openers have two set-screws on the back or side of the motor housing. Stanley openers usually have two knobs on the bottom of the motor housing. Genie openers have trip levers on the travel bar that you can reposition to adjust the travel. Adjust according to the instructions for your brand of opener.

Remember that adjusting garage door travel limits involves working with complicated and sometimes dangerous mechanical and electrical components. If you’re unsure or uncomfortable at any point during the mechanical process, it’s recommended to seek professional assistance from a qualified garage door technician.

Always consult your owner’s manual for precise guidance on steps to take and what tools are required.