Garage door sensors keep your garage door safe and functioning properly. Sensors are small devices near the bottom of the door tracks. Their purpose is to prevent accidents and damage, using an infrared beam to detect obstacles and prevent the door from closing on anything in its path.
When sensors misalign, your garage door might not close or reverse unexpectedly. Keeping your sensors aligned ensures safe, reliable operation and helps you avoid costly repairs.
What Causes Alignment Issues?
Garage door sensors can become misaligned for several reasons, leading to malfunction or inconsistent operation, including:
- Accidental impact: Sensors are typically mounted around 4 inches above the ground, so they can easily be bumped by bikes, tools and foot traffic.
- Debris buildup: Dirt can accumulate on the sensor lenses, interfering with the infrared beam. Dirt buildup can block the sensor’s signal.
- Light interference: Bright sunlight or strong artificial lighting near the sensors can disrupt the infrared beam and cause false readings.
- Loose mounting: Vibration from regular door operation can loosen the mounting brackets that hold the sensors in place.
- Warped tracks: If the garage door tracks warp due to temperature fluctuations, impact or poor installation, it can affect the positioning of sensors.
- Wiring issues: Loose, frayed or disconnected wiring can interrupt the power supply to the sensors, causing them to malfunction.
- Corrosion: The metal brackets and screws that hold sensors in place can become weak and shift due to corrosion, causing the sensors to misalign and fail.
How to Know if Your Garage Door Sensor Is Not Working
If your garage door sensors are not working properly or have become misaligned, you may notice several warning signs, which mean your sensors need realignment, cleaning or repair. The most common signs include:
- Buildup on sensor lenses: Dirt, fog or dust buildup can interfere with the sensor’s infrared beam. Cleaning the sensor lenses may resolve the issue.
- Door won’t close with remote: If the door won’t close using the remote but works when you press and hold the wall-mounted button, it’s a strong sign of a sensor issue. This bypass function is built into most garage door openers, allowing manual closing when sensors aren’t working.
- Flashing indicator lights: Most garage door sensors have small LED lights. A steady light usually means the sensors are properly aligned. If the lights are blinking, flickering or off, it indicates misalignment, a loose wire or a faulty sensor.
- Operating issues: One of the biggest signs of a misaligned sensor is when the garage door starts closing but immediately reverses. Alternatively, the door may refuse to close, leaving it stuck in an open position.
- Uneven sensor placement: Sensors should face each other at the same level on either side of the door. If one sensor is slightly tilted or knocked out of position, the infrared beam won’t connect properly.
- Warnings with no obstructions: If your garage door won’t close and the opener’s indicator light blinks, the sensor is not aligned properly, preventing it from communicating correctly.
How to Align Your Garage Door Sensors
Here’s the process for aligning your sensors:
- Check for obstructions: Clear debris, dirt or objects that could block the infrared beam and wipe the sensor lenses with a clean, dry cloth.
- Inspect the sensor lights: Most sensors have LED indicator lights showing their status. Check if these lights are off or blinking.
- Loosen the sensors: Each sensor is mounted on a bracket near the bottom of the tracks. Most sensors have a wingnut that is finger-tight, but you may need a wrench or pliers. Loosen the wingnut, allowing the sensors to move slightly.
- Adjust the sensors: Align each sensor, ensuring they are level and facing each other. Use a measuring tape or laser level to ensure both sensors are the same height from the ground.
- Secure the sensors: Tighten the wingnut to secure the sensors.
- Test adjustment: Check that both LED sensor lights are solid and not blinking, and operate the door multiple times with the remote to test.
- Troubleshoot if necessary: Check the wiring connections if the door won’t operate. If the problem persists, the sensors might need replacement.
Contact Poulson Doors LLC for Garage Door Sensor Replacement
If your garage door sensors malfunction, call the professionals at Poulson Doors LLC for reliable, efficient service. Faulty sensors can compromise safety, but our team can quickly diagnose and replace them to restore smooth operation. Contact us today for a free estimate or schedule your sensor replacement online.