How To Repair Garage Door Sensor

The garage door sensor acts as an essential safety feature that prevents closure when objects exist in the opening path. Your situation can become problematic if your garage door sensor fails to operate. An improperly functioning garage door causes problems with its closure mechanisms which results in safety risks and nuisance situations. Don’t worry, though! A complete guide exists to solve your garage door sensor problem.

How to Tell There’s a Problem with the Sensor

Your garage door sensor issue becomes the main suspect when your door stays open or rises up repeatedly after your close attempt. You should check the status of the garage door sensor lights for evaluation. An improper sensor display consisting of blinking or flashing or being completely off indicates there is an issue with the sensor.

Check the Power Supply

As the initial step confirm that power reaches the garage door sensor. You should inspect the wires which run from the sensor to the garage door power supply. Check loose wires then shut off the power supply before securing the wires by tightening them. The functioning of the sensor may be disrupted when wires become loose.

Clean the Sensor Lens

Sometimes, dirt or dust can build up on the sensor lens and mess things up. Cleaning the lens is an easy fix! Here’s how you do it:

• Get the Right Tools: You need a soft, clean cloth or a microfiber cloth. You can also use a little soap and water if the lens is really dirty.
• Be Safe: Make sure the garage door is all the way down, and turn off the power to the garage door opener to be safe.
• Look at the Lens: Check for dirt, dust, or cobwebs on the sensor lens.
• Wipe It Down: Use the cloth to gently wipe off the dirt. Don’t press too hard on the lens.
• If It's Really Dirty: If it’s very dirty, you can use a tiny bit of soap and water on the cloth to clean it. Don’t get too much water on the lens, though!
• Dry It Off: After you wipe it, make sure to dry the lens with a clean part of the cloth.
• Check the Alignment: After cleaning, make sure the sensors are facing each other directly. If they’re misaligned, the sensor might not work.

Make Sure the Sensors Are Aligned Right

The sensors need to be perfectly lined up to work. If one of them is knocked out of place, the door won’t know that there’s something in the way. To fix this:

• Loosen the Screws: Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws that hold the sensor in place.
• Adjust the Sensors: Move the sensors until the lights stay solid (not blinking). The sensors should face each other directly.
• Tighten the Screws: Once everything looks good, tighten the screws to keep the sensors in place.

Check for Things in the Way

Sometimes, there’s something blocking the sensor’s view. Maybe there’s a tool or something else in the way. Check the area around the sensors and clear any objects that might be blocking the beam.

Look at the Wiring

If the sensor still isn’t working, check the wires. They might be damaged or loose. Here’s how you can inspect the wiring:

• Visual Check: Look at all the wires that connect the sensor to the garage door opener. See if any wires look frayed or damaged.
• Tighten Loose Wires: If the wires are loose, make sure they’re tightly connected.
• Look for Breaks: If you see any broken wires, you’ll need to fix or replace them.
• Check the Insulation: Make sure the coating around the wires isn’t damaged. If it is, you may need to replace the wire.
• Clean the Terminals: If you see rust or dirt on the metal parts where the wires connect, clean them off gently.

Replace the Sensor

Replacement of the sensor becomes necessary after verifying that all steps of cleaning and wire maintenance failed to restore proper functionality. The replacement of a broken sensor will become necessary. A new compatible sensor for your garage system exists on the market which you can install through the provided instructions.

Call a Garage Door Professional for Help

When all troubleshooting attempts fail to get the sensor operational you should seek expertise. Garage door sensor experts possess the knowledge required to conduct safe repairs of these components.

Conclusion

Fixing a broken garage door sensor doesn’t have to be hard. By cleaning the garage door lens, realigning the sensors, and checking the garage door wiring, you can often fix the issue yourself. If it’s still not working, garage door sensor replacement or calling a garage door pro is the next step. Regular garage door maintenance will keep your garage door sensor working properly and make sure your garage stays safe!