For over three decades, garage owners have been required by law to install safety sensors in their garages. They’re on both sides of the garage entry, one on each side. If there is an obstacle under them, they will prevent the door from shutting.
As a result, the sensors reduce the danger of harm and damage to your vehicle and other items encountered on the approach to the entrance. When the garage door begins to fail, however, it obstructs the garage’s everyday usage. You probably question how to detect whether the garage door sensor is faulty and seek for the best approach to address this problem. Let’s see what happens.
The Garage Door Is Not Closing
The garage door malfunction is the first indicator that anything is amiss with your garage sensor. Something is amiss if the door opens without difficulty yet closes with difficulty. Another possibility is that the door closes but quickly reopens.
Something interferes with the sensors in both situations, causing them to behave as though there were an obstruction between them. The door reopens to avoid an accident that may harm an object or injure the person beneath it.
The garage door may not open or close properly for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, check to see whether there is an issue with the sensors. Testing them using a few cardboard boxes is one of the easiest methods.
Test with a Cardboard Box
To test if the garage door sensors are working properly, place a few cardboard boxes under the open garage door. Because the sensors are roughly 6 inches (15 cm) above the ground, you should select boxes that are higher.
You can now attempt to close the garage door. The boxes should disrupt the beam of light between them if the sensors are in line and working properly, and the door should remain open. Another possibility is for the door to begin shutting but then open before it comes into contact with the boxes.
If the garage door sensors are malfunctioning, the door will not stop until it reaches and damages the boxes. It’s conceivable that the door closes completely, as if there are no boxes within, and the boxes are destroyed. It can also partially close and reopen after striking the boxes. The sensor security function has failed in both situations.
Switch to manual operation if the door destroys the boxes as it closes. Because it is impossible to foresee whether or not the door would slam without detecting tiny obstructions, children, or pets, you should close the garage door and not use it until the problem is resolved. You’ll be able to avoid any potential mishaps this way.
2. Lights from Photo-Eye Sensors
On the door’s track, the photo-eyes sensors are about 6 inches (15 cm) above the ground. A green LED light illuminates one sensor, while a red LED light illuminates the other. A green light on the sensor shows that it is sending a light beam, while a red light indicates that it is receiving one.
One of these two lights will go out or flicker if there is a problem with the sensors. That generally indicates the light communication between them has been disrupted, or the sensors are not on the same level. In both situations, they are unable to carry out their duties properly.
If the red light flashes but the green light continues to operate normally, the sensors are out of alignment. It might be beneficial if you adjusted them by moving them slightly till both lights are switched on.
However, you should investigate whether the sensors are malfunctioning just during particular times of the day. Sensors might be affected by the sun at times. If the sun’s rays strike one of the sensors at an angle, they will interfere with the light beam and create a failure.
A easy option is to place cardboard in front of the sensors to shade them from the sun’s beams. Always place the cardboard with care so that it does not obstruct the signal between the sensors. Otherwise, you’ll just be able to substitute one issue with another.
3. Sensor Lenses
Dust and grime will collect on the sensor lenses on a regular basis if you live on a busy street and your garage door is frequently opened. As they are pea-sized, they quickly grow filthy over time and stop providing the signal essential to close the door.
When you wipe and carefully clean the sensor lens, you may immediately establish a blocked signal. Remove the cobweb from around the garage door using a broom, and then wipe away the dust with a soft cloth.
To be sure you’ve solved the problem, repeat the test using the cardboard boxes. Check that the sensors are receiving an uninterrupted signal so that the door opens and shuts normally.
Furthermore, high humidity might cause sensor malfunction. You might anticipate little drops of water to enter the sensor if you reside in a wet region. To begin, clean the sensors on the outside with a dry towel. Then remove the metal holders and inspect them on the inside to see whether they are moist.
Lawn sprinklers are another source of moisture in the sensor’s lens. Water might be an issue if the sprinklers are too close to the garage. Solve the problem by relocating them such that no water reaches your garage door.
4. Power Supply for Sensors
The green light on the sensor indicates that there are no issues and that the power supply is working properly. If both lights on the sensors are off, the sensors are powerless and unable to respond.
Check to see if the cable is disconnected, since this will prevent the garage door from closing. Due to a voltage decrease or a power loss, the fuse may explode. The sensors will become active after the power supply has been restored.
5. Damage to the sensor wires
Wire damage is one of the most serious issues with garage door sensors. A sensor that flashes orange instead of the normal red light, depending on the garage door model, may indicate this type of problem.
Examine all wires running from the sensor to the rear of the opener’s terminals. If the cables are tangled, untangle them and inspect them for any damaged or twisted wires.
A staple or a nail sliced through the wire insulation can occasionally be seen. For the door to operate effectively, all of the wires must be undamaged, and they must be properly connected to the garage door opener. Keep in mind that the white wires should be connected to the white terminal, while the black and white wires should be connected to the gray terminal.
If you see that wires are in the incorrect location or are damaged, you should contact an electrician. You can repair the sensor wiring yourself, but only if you have the necessary skills.