Garage Door Safety Sensors
Your garage door is one of the largest moving objects on your home, which makes proper safety features extremely important. One of the most important components of a modern garage door system is the garage door safety sensor.
At Dubois County Garage Doors, we want homeowners to understand how these sensors work, why they matter, and when it may be time to have them inspected or replaced.
What Are Garage Door Safety Sensors?
Garage door safety sensors are the small devices located near the bottom of your garage door tracks, typically just a few inches above the floor. One sensor sends an infrared beam across the garage door opening while the other receives it.
When something interrupts that beam while the garage door is closing, the opener should stop the door and reverse it.
This simple safety feature can help prevent the garage door from closing on children, pets, vehicles, bicycles, tools, and other objects in its path.
Signs Your Safety Sensors May Have a Problem
If your garage door refuses to close or immediately reverses, the safety sensors are one of the first things to check.
Common signs of sensor problems include:
- Garage door starts closing and then reverses
- Garage door won’t close using the opener
- Sensor indicator lights are blinking or turned off
- Door only closes when you hold the wall button
- Sensors have been bumped out of alignment
- Dirt, dust, or debris is covering the sensor lenses
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Sometimes the solution is as simple as cleaning or realigning the sensors. Other situations may involve damaged wiring, faulty sensors, or another problem with the garage door opener.
Don’t Bypass Your Garage Door Safety Sensors
If your safety sensors aren’t working correctly, don’t disconnect or bypass them just to get the garage door operating again. They are an important part of your garage door’s safety system.
Instead, have the problem properly diagnosed and repaired.
A Simple Safety Check for Homeowners
Periodically check the area around your sensors and make sure nothing is blocking them. You can also visually inspect the sensors to make sure they’re securely mounted, clean, and facing each other.
If your garage door behaves unexpectedly during testing, stop using the automatic closing function until the system can be inspected.
Need Garage Door Sensor Repair?
If your garage door won’t close, keeps reversing, or you suspect a problem with your safety sensors, Dubois County Garage Doors can help.
Our experienced team can inspect your garage door system, diagnose the problem, and make the necessary repairs to help keep your garage door operating safely and reliably.
Dubois County Garage Doors
812.683.3243
Dubois County Garage Doors — The people you know, the name you trust.
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