Having access to an automatic garage door can make your home a lot more convenient. These types of garage doors can be opened and closed with the push of a button, often allowing you to remain in the comfort and safety of your vehicle while operating the door. While automatic garage doors can be beneficial, they can also present unique challenges when they start to malfunction.

Here are three simple things that you can do if your garage door isn't closing in the future.

1. Replace the battery in your remote.

Many homeowners fail to realize that the remote transmitter they use to operate their garage door on a daily basis is powered by a small battery. If you find that your garage door isn't closing properly, try using the stationary button installed inside your garage.

If this stationary button operates the garage door without issue, then you probably need to replace the battery in your remote in order to ensure the transmitter can communicate with your garage door properly. Replacing the battery should allow you to close your garage door without issue in the future.

2. Realign your photo eyes.

In order to improve safety, modern garage doors are equipped with photo eye sensors that prevent closure when an object obstructs the path of the sensors. This feature prevents your garage door from coming down on a child or pet, but it can also prevent your garage door from closing even when there are no obstructions when the sensors are out of alignment.

Taking the time to realign the photo eyes that act as a trigger for your garage door's sensor could help you eliminate closure problems and restore proper function to your garage door.

3. Disable the disconnect switch.

If you hear your garage door's motor running but the door doesn't close, this could be a sign that the disconnect switch has been enabled. The disconnect switch is designed to help you bypass the automatic functionality of your garage door in the event that you lose power.

When the disconnect switch is enabled, the door can be operated manually to allow access to your garage. Sometimes the disconnect switch can accidentally be enabled, but consulting your owner's manual to determine how to disable the switch should allow you to close your garage door properly in the future.

Being able to troubleshoot an automatic garage door that won't close will help you ensure your garage remains a useful and convenient feature in the future. For more information, contact a company like AAA Garage Door, Inc.