How to Deal with a Malfunctioning Garage Door Sensor

Your residential garage door and garage door opener have many vital components that all need to be working properly and in sync in order for your garage door to work and open and close. Specifically, your garage door sensor’s job is to “look” for any objects in the way of the door moving up or down. The photo eye component of the sensor is typically on either side of the door at 2 to 6 inches off of the ground. It will “see” if there is something in the way and stop the door from moving.

Signs that Your Garage Door Sensors Are Not Working

We are so reliant on our garage doors and openers to do what they are supposed to do day in and day out, year after year. But sometimes, they will stop working just like anything else that is around your home. A sign that there is an issue is obviously that your garage door will not close. This could be caused by a malfunctioning garage door sensor. If you are sure that there is nothing in the way of the door and you try to close it, and it stops and then reverses, your garage door sensor is more than likely not malfunctioning. 

On the more dangerous side, if your garage door is closing even when there is an obstruction, then it is definitely an issue and cause for concern. You can check the status of your garage door sensor at any time by putting a cardboard box in the way and activating your garage door. If it crushes the box and does not reverse its direction, then your sensor has stopped working and you need to leave your door open and not use it immediately.

How to Handle a Garage Door Sensor Issue

If your problem lies with the door going in reverse, you can check if the sensors are dirty. If there is a buildup of dirt or grime on the camera lens, then you can take care of it yourself and clean it up. If you have any concerns with messing with your sensors at all, then it is best to contact a professional for assistance and for final determination of the problem.

If your door is closing even with something in the way, then you need to be very careful and speak to your family about not using the door until it can be repaired. Our professional and trained technicians at Affordable Garage Door know how to handle the heavy units and deal with any wiring or other issues that may surface while checking it out. If you have any concerns, it is always better to be safe than sorry by having a professional take care of the work.

Repairs and New Garage Door Installations Are What We Do

Our specialists can help determine your problem and offer a solution to fix it. We are available through our online contact form.