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Garage Door Sensor Issues
Why Is Your Garage Door Sensor Blinking Red? and How to Fix It
Table Of Contents
- How Do I Troubleshoot a Blinking Red Garage Door Sensor?
- Garage Door Sensor FAQs
- What Do Garage Door Sensors Do?
- How Do You Test a Garage Door Sensor?
- Garage Door Safety Sensor Still Not Working? Contact An Expert Today
Garage door sensors have two lights — one for the sender or emitter sensor and another for the receiving sensor. Both sensors need to be aligned and free of obstructions for the garage to operate safely. If something is wrong, these sensor lights may change color or flash.
A garage sensor that’s blinking red is a strong indicator that there’s a problem. You will also likely see issues with the operation of your garage door, such as the door reversing or stopping before closing.
RCS Garage Doors is here to help you understand garage door sensors and how to test their functionality. From there, you can potentially fix the problem yourself or call the professionals to handle the repair.
How Do I Troubleshoot a Blinking Red Garage Door Safety Sensor?
Garage door sensors have indicator lights that may be red, yellow, orange or green. If your garage door sensor has a red light, follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Identify Any Obstructions
If something is in the way of the sensors, the sensor light might flash red, and the garage door will not operate. To fix an obstruction:
- Identify where the garage door sensors are located.
- Inspect each sensor, removing any debris or spiderwebs from the surrounding areas.
- Clear the area between the sensors of items, ensuring vehicles are moved away from the sensor beam.
Obstructions often include debris, like leaves or sticks, but could also result from items in the garage that have moved into the path of the sensor beam.
2. Clean Dirty Sensor Lenses
Other than obstructions, dirt and dust on the photo eye sensor lenses are other common reasons for a blinking red light on a garage door sensor. To clean off the lens, follow these tips:
- Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe away the spiderwebs and dust from the lenses to see if dirt is the cause of your sensor malfunctioning.
- If dirt persists, lightly wet the cloth to clear it.
- Avoid any kind of cleaning chemicals or excessive moisture, as these can damage the sensor.
If you’re in an area with a lot of dust or your garage gets cluttered or dirty often, you should clean your sensors often.
3. Check for Misalignment
If nothing is obstructing the sensors or lenses, check the alignment to ensure the sensors are level and even. Sensor misalignment can happen from improper installation or if something — like a person or car — accidentally knocks them out of alignment.
To fix possible sensor misalignment, you should:
- Turn off the sensors by cutting the power to the garage.
- Tie a piece of string from one sensor to the other to check the alignment.
- Loosen the screws and move the sensors until the string is level.
- Tighten the screws and remove the string.
- Restore power and check the sensor lights and door function — you may need to repeat these steps if the first adjustment doesn’t work.
If you are having trouble aligning the sensors on your own, it’s best to consult a garage door professional.
4. Inspect the Wiring
If you’ve checked the alignment and see no obstructions, a red garage door sensor might mean there’s a problem with the electrical components. You’ll want to perform a visual check of the wires for chew marks, water damage or other signs of damage and have a professional replace them to get your sensors working again.
Garage Door Sensor FAQs
The following are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about garage door sensors:
- Why is one sensor light yellow and the other green? In modern opener models, a yellow or amber light on the emitter sensor and a green light on the receiving sensor is a sign the garage door is operating correctly. Older models may have used a green light for both emitting and receiving sensors, so consult your manual to identify the correct indicator light color for your opener.
- Why are my garage door sensors flashing red and green? Garage door sensors have many different signals, so one light could remain green while the other blinks red. In this case, there is most likely an issue with the alignment. Try moving them to see if the lights return to normal colors.
- Why are my sensor lights not on? If you don’t see any light coming from the sensor, that indicates there’s an issue with the power. If this wasn’t caused by an outage or trip, consult a garage door technician to investigate any problems with the electrical system.
- How to tell if I need a new garage door sensor? Persistent issues from error codes, age or damage could mean you need new garage door sensors. You can always schedule a professional inspection of your garage door if you suspect it’s time for a replacement.
- Will my garage door still work with broken sensors? Garage door sensors are a key safety feature, and most door openers will not operate without them. As a result, you may need to operate your door manually until the sensors are fixed.
What Do Garage Door Sensors Do?
Garage door sensors are a safety measure that prevents the doors from closing on an unsuspecting person or valuable objects, such as a vehicle, tools or equipment. All modern garage doors must come equipped with a sensor to prevent accidents or injuries. These sensors can change the direction of the door if they detect something in its path, forcing it to open. If a garage door sensor stops working, it can become a significant safety hazard and an inconvenience.
Garage door sensors work by using infrared sensors that are equipped to either side of your door. These sensors are usually no more than six inches from the ground and create an invisible line across the door that detects if something is in the way.
How Do You Test a Garage Door Sensor?
Testing your garage door sensor is essential to prevent injuries or property damage. A faulty sensor can prevent the door from stopping and reversing its direction when something is in the way. Once you’ve figured out the problem with your sensor, you can take the next steps to have it fixed.
You can determine if your garage door sensor works by using an ordinary object, such as a box. You’ll want to place your object in line with your sensors and attempt to close your garage door. Make sure the area is clear of other adults, children or pets. If your garage door reverses with the obstruction in the way, you can assume that it’s working correctly.
If your garage door closes on the object or seems to stutter before reversing, your sensors are likely the culprit. The first thing you should do is ensure no children or pets walk under the door. Carefully remove the object and safely close the door. Then, you can either identify the issue and follow the above steps to fix it or contact a professional to help solve the problem.
Garage Door Safety Sensor Still Not Working? Contact an Expert Today
If you experience persistent problems with your garage door sensors, call the team of experts at RCS Garage Doors for residential and commercial garage door services. We put our clients first to ensure you are 100% satisfied with our services. With over 20 years of experience, we are your local garage door professional in Charlotte, NC. We have extensive training and the latest tools to service misaligned or damaged garage door sensors.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment!
