It can be incredibly frustrating to find that your motorized garage door isn't coming down all the way. If the garage isn't completely shut off, everything inside, from your car to your power tools, will no longer be protected from the weather. Even worse, the security of your property will be compromised.

With that in mind, you'll want to quickly figure out exactly why your garage door isn't coming to a complete close. Some issues can be sorted out yourself, although it's possible that you will need to contact a professional.

1. The Track is Out of Alignment

Your garage door will fail to lower all the way if it encounters significant resistance, and one of the most common causes of resistance is a misaligned track. The metal track the doors run along needs to be aligned properly for it to move smoothly. If you notice any dents in either track, or that they seem out of shape, the door may not be moving over them due to the pressure they place on it. If you notice that your track is out of alignment, make sure you call a professional. The situation is only going to get worse, and it's a hard one to put right by yourself.

2. Poor Travel Setting

Though rare, it is possible that your garage door's travel setting is off. The travel setting is important since it dictates how far the door goes up and down. If your door almost closes but doesn't quite get there, this could be the cause. You should be able to make an adjustment manually – look through your owner's manual or go online to find out how to do so.

3. Unseen Obstruction

It might sound like an obvious step, but make sure that there aren't any obstructions blocking the garage door from fully closing. To avoid damage or injury, your door will be fitted with sensors to ensure that it cannot close on anything. You may even find that something has become stuck on the sensors, so check the edge of the door and then try lowering it again.

4. Misaligned Sensors

Those sensors can also cause problems when they become misaligned. This can happen for several reasons, but probably the most common is an accidental bump. Even bouncing a tennis ball off a garage door can sometimes cause the sensors to become misaligned. If you spot no issues with the track, no obstructions, and don't find that adjusting the travel setting does anything, misaligned sensors are probably to blame. Instead of attempting to realign them yourself, contact a professional.