If Your Garage Door Sensor Isn't Working, Here's What You Should Do

Is it one of those mornings when you are rushing to work, but your garage door won't cooperate? You're most likely dealing with a garage door sensor issue. What are garage sensors, and what do they do? This article will give you a crash course on garage door sensors and troubleshooting tips if they stop working. So, before you think of garage door installation, let's get to know garage door sensors a little better. 

The first step to troubleshooting garage door sensor problems is understanding what they are and how they function.

What Are Garage Door Sensors?

A garage door sensor is a safety feature on garage doors. These sensors are located at the bottom of the garage door frame on both sides. The garage door sensors prevent the door from closing if something is in the way. Since 1993, the law has required garage doors to have these safety features.

How Do Garage Door Sensors Work?

The garage door sensors use an infrared beam to detect if something is in the way of the door. When the garage door is closing, the sensors send an infrared beam across the opening of the garage door. If this beam is interrupted, it signals the garage door opener to stop and reverses the garage door back to the open position.

Now that we know what garage door sensors are and how they work, let's discuss how to troubleshoot garage door sensor problems.

Testing A Garage Door Sensor: How Do You Do It?

The first step in troubleshooting a sensor problem is ascertaining that the sensor has malfunctioned. One way of doing this is placing an object in the garage door's sensor's path, such as a card box. If the garage door senses the obstruction and automatically reverses, the garage door safety sensor works as it should. 

However, if your garage door does not automatically reverse when an obstruction is placed in its path, that is a strong indication that the garage door safety sensor is not functioning. 

Garage Door Sensors That Don't Work: Common Causes

There are a few reasons that can stop garage sensors from working. Let's look at them.

-The LED lights are not illuminating the sensors

-Sensor lenses need to be cleaned

-There is too much moisture on the sensors

-The sensors are not aligned properly

-Normal wear and tear took its toll on your sensors

What To Do Next

Once you know that your garage door sensors are not working, you can do a few things to try and fix the problem. 

Assess The Alignment Of The Sensors

One of the main reasons garage door sensors stop working is because they are not aligned correctly. The garage door sensor units need to be aligned so that the infrared beam sent by one unit is appropriately received by the other.

The light indicators on each garage door sensor unit will let you know if the units are correctly aligned. When you try to shut the door, a green blink from the light indicators shows that the units are aligned and functioning correctly.

However, the garage door sensors are not aligned if you see a red or no light. Most garage door sensors have an adjustment screw that you can use to change the alignment. 

Clean The Lenses

Sometimes all it takes to get garage door sensors working again is to clean the lenses. The garage door sensor lenses can become dirty over time, obstructing the infrared beam and causing the garage door sensors to stop working.

Use a soft cloth to wipe the garage door sensors' lenses gently. If you see any dirt or grime that won't come off with a soft cloth, you can use a moist cloth to clean the lenses.

Damaged Wires

Damaged wires are a common reason garage door sensors stop working. Wear and tear can cause the wires to become frayed or disconnected. In addition, pests and weather elements can also damage garage door sensor wires. If you see any damaged wires, it is best to replace them.

The Power Supply For The Sensors Is Faulty

If the sensors' power supply has issues, it can also cause the sensors to malfunction. So, check their power supply to ensure that it is working properly.

Monitor Sunlight

One area often overlooked is the garage door sensors' position in relation to sunlight. Sunlight can potentially interfere with the garage door sensors' infrared beam. So, ensure the garage door sensors are not in direct sunlight. If they are, try to find a way to shield them from the sun.

Why You Should Troubleshoot Your Garage Door Sensors

There are several benefits to troubleshooting your garage door sensors. The most obvious one is it's cost-effective. Garage door sensors are not cheap, and replacing them can be pretty expensive.

Another benefit is it offers a quick remedy for your garage door problem. There is nothing worse than a garage door that doesn't work, especially when you are in a hurry to leave for work.

Consult an Expert

If you have tried all of the above and your garage door sensors are still not working, it is best to consult an expert. A garage door specialist will be able to diagnose the problem and find a solution. With their specialized knowledge and tools, they will be able to fix your garage door sensors quickly and efficiently.

Garage door sensors are an essential part of your garage door system. They help to keep your garage door safe and secure. If your garage door sensors stop working, there are a few things you can do to try and fix the problem. For instance, you can check the alignment of the sensors, clean the lenses, or replace any damaged wires. However, it is best to consult an expert if you are unsuccessful. At Chicago Garage Door, we offer a wide range of garage door services, including garage door sensor repair. So, if you have problems with your garage door sensors, call us or visit our website at https://www.chicagogaragedoor.com/. We will be happy to assist you.

Chicago Garage Door,

501 West Golf Rd Arlington Heights IL 60005,

+17739743434

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