What to Do If Your Garage Door Opener Won’t Work After a Storm in St. Louis

If your garage door opener stops working after a storm, first check that it has power and the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped, then inspect the safety sensors, look for damaged wires, reset the opener by unplugging and replugging it, replace the remote batteries, and finally test the manual release. If it still won’t move, contact a professional for help.

Storms can knock out power or cause surges that confuse your opener’s electronics. In areas like St. Louis, heavy winds and lightning are common culprits. The same steps also apply for other cities such as Nashville.

 

Check Your Home Power and Breaker Box

 

Make sure your opener is plugged in. Then go to your home’s electrical panel and look for any tripped breakers or blown fuses. If a breaker has flipped to the “off” or middle position, switch it fully off and then back on. If a fuse looks dark or the metal inside is broken, replace it with one of the same amperage. Without electricity reaching the opener, it cannot run.

 

Inspect Safety Sensors and Photo Eyes

 

Most openers have two sensor units—one on each side of the door—about four to six inches above the ground. They send a beam across the doorway. If this beam is blocked, dirty, or misaligned, the opener will refuse to close.

• Clean the glass on each sensor with a soft, damp cloth.
• Check that the small LED lights on both sensors are on or blinking in the same color.
• Loosen the adjustment screws, aim the sensors so they face each other directly, then retighten.

 

Examine Wiring and Antenna

 

High winds can pull wires loose or knock components around.

• Look for any frayed, pinched, or disconnected wires inside the opener housing and at each sensor.
• Ensure the opener’s radio antenna (a thin wire hanging from the motor unit) is straight down and not tangled.
• If you see burn marks or melted plastic near wiring, power off the breaker and call a technician.

 

Reset the Garage Door Opener

 

Electric surges from lightning strikes can lock up the opener’s memory. To reset:

• Unplug the opener from the wall or shut off its breaker.
• Wait 30 seconds to one minute.
• Plug it back in or turn the breaker on.
• Press the “learn” or “program” button on the opener’s back to re-sync remotes if needed (consult your owner’s manual for the exact location).

 

Test the Manual Door Release

 

This step checks if the door itself is binding or off track.

• Locate the red emergency release cord hanging from the opener’s trolley.
• Pull it down firmly to detach the door from the opener carriage.
• Try lifting and lowering the door by hand—if it’s too heavy, binding, or jerky, you’ll need to realign or repair the tracks and rollers before the opener will work again.
• Re-engage the trolley by pulling the cord toward the garage wall and manually running the door opener once.

 

Replace Remote Control Batteries

 

After a storm, radio interference or a low-voltage surge can weaken your remote’s battery.

• Open the remote case with a small screwdriver or sliding latch.
• Swap in fresh batteries of the correct size, following the polarity markings (+/–).
• Test the door. If it works with the wall switch but not the remote, you may need to reprogram the remote.

 

Look for Water or Lightning Damage

 

Rain can seep into the motor housing or circuit board, and lightning can burn out components.

• Open the top cover of the opener and check for water droplets or rust.
• Dry any moisture with a soft cloth and allow the interior to air-dry for several hours.
• If you see scorched parts, don’t try to fix those yourself—call a pro to replace the damaged electronics safely.

 

Lubricate Moving Parts

 

High wind or debris from a storm can strip away grease and cause extra friction.

• Use a lubricant made for garage doors—usually a silicone-based spray or lithium grease.
• Apply to rollers, hinges, springs, and the opener’s trolley rail.
• Wipe off excess to prevent dirt buildup.

 

Run a Full System Test

 

Once you’ve checked power, sensors, wiring, reset the unit, and lubricated parts:

• Close and open the door several times using both the wall button and remote.
• Listen for unusual grinding or clicking that might signal a hidden problem.
• Watch how the door moves—if it binds, hesitates, or reverses unexpectedly, investigate further before relying on it daily.

 

Contact a Garage Door Professional

 

If you’ve gone through all these steps and the opener still won’t work, there may be a serious electrical or mechanical failure. A trained technician has the tools to:

• Test and repair circuit boards
• Replace worn gears, motors, or belts
• Align or replace springs and tracks safely
• Confirm overall safety compliance

Calling a professional ensures the job is done right and keeps you safe.