Garage Door Sensor Issues
Garage doors keep our lives on track as we open and close the entrance to our garage. With the click of a button or a quick combination on a keypad, the door raises or lowers, helping protect our possessions. When the garage door breaks down or will not open or close properly, it affects our daily lives.
A common problem with a garage door is when the sensor moves out of alignment. How can you be sure your garage door sensor is the culprit of a broken door? 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.
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How Garage Door Sensors Work
Is your garage door sensor not working? First, it’s important to understand how garage doors work before trying to fix an issue yourself. Since 1993, residential automatic garage doors have required safety sensors that prevent the door from closing on a person or object. Every garage door must have sensors that can tell if something is in the way before the door closes.
The sensors act as a key safety feature for automatic garage doors. Sensors can reverse the direction of the closing door if they detect an object in the path of the door. The door will then return to its open position. If the sensors stop working, this creates an inconvenience as well as a serious safety hazard.
How Do You Test a Garage Door Sensor?
Now that you know how garage door sensors work, you can test your sensor’s functionality. Determining if your garage door sensor is bad is fairly straightforward. Once you determine that the sensors are the issue, the solution is often simple enough to perform yourself.
To test your garage door sensor, you will need a common everyday object like a cardboard box. Place the box in the line of the sensors and try to close the garage door. If the door reverses after sensing an obstruction, your door is functioning correctly. If the door closes on the box, you will want to troubleshoot and look for signs to determine what is wrong with the sensors.
Is My Garage Door Sensor Broken? Signs to Look For
If your garage door sensors are faulty, you can troubleshoot to identify the root cause. There are a few signs that can help you determine the underlying problem with a garage door sensor. By checking these, you can decide whether to fix the problem yourself or contact a professional. Look for these three signs:
- Light indicators: An easy way to tell if your garage door sensors are out of alignment is by checking if the exterior LED light blinks when you attempt to close the door. Green lights mean the sensors are working, while red lights indicate the sensors are not aligned. If you see your garage door sensor blinking red lights, try inspecting the bracket or tightening a screw on the blinking sensor. You’ll know you fixed the sensor if the light stops blinking, the red light on the garage door sensor turns green, and your garage door closes properly again. If the garage door sensor light is always on, there may be an issue with the circuit board that a professional needs to fix.
- Dirty lenses: Sometimes fixing your garage door sensors requires just a clean cloth. The sensor lenses can fail to operate when dirt or spiderwebs block their view of the garage door opening. Wiping off the lenses can help your door function as normal. If your garage is especially dirty or your area is known for dust, you will want to clean your sensors regularly.
- Damaged wires: The wires responsible for connecting the garage door sensor system can undergo wear and tear as a result of regular use, weather and even pests. Rain and wind, pest infestations and the use of tools can all affect the wires. Check to see if the wires have water damage, chew marks or other indications of tampering. If so, you may need to replace them.
After performing these remedies, recheck your garage door with another cardboard box. This test offers an easy way to see if you fixed the problem or if you should call a garage door expert.
Garage Door Safety Sensor Not Working? Contact RCS Garage Doors 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 make sure you are 100% satisfied with our services. With more than 20 years of experience, we are your local garage door professional serving the Charlotte, NC area. We have extensive training and the latest tools to service your misaligned or damaged garage door sensors.
To learn more about our services or schedule an appointment, contact us today!