Garage door sensors changed the way garage doors work. Whereas before homeowners are limited to manual opening and closing of the door, now the photo eye sensors work alongside the automated opener to give the garage door a more intuitive moving feature. Let’s discuss how garage door sensors work, why they have become indispensable in modern garage doors, and how to spot any problems in the sensors and opener.
Why Garage Door Sensors are Important
If your garage door opener is equipped with sensors and one of them isn’t functioning properly, your garage door won’t close. This is a safety feature that is in place to prevent accidents. If you find that your garage door sensors are not working, it’s vital to have them repaired as soon as possible by a professional garage door repair company.
You’ll want working photo eye sensors all the time. Remember, a standard garage door weighs hundreds of pounds. If your garage door system does not have a functioning sensor that can reverse automatically, you could put yourself and your family in danger.
One of the most significant benefits is that they help to keep your family safe. No sudden accidental pinning down. Another advantage of garage door sensors is that they can help extend your garage door lifespan. Preventing the door from closing when something is in the way actually protects the doors themselves. You won’t have any accidental dings and dents from forceful contact.
How Photo Eye Sensors Work
Garage door sensors are medium-sized black boxes that are affixed on the bottom of garage door opening path. Both sides need to be evenly placed for them to work. The photo eye sensors have light indicators – green light when the unit is switched on, while the red light means the closing path is free and that the sensors can see each other without any obstruction.
Garage door sensors are crucial additions made in 1993 when the auto-reverse feature became the standard for garage doors. Essentially, the photo eye sensors have prevented the risk of people getting pinned down under the heavy garage door. This is one of the most important technologies because such an accident can result in serious injuries, or even death.
The garage door sensors prevent the door from closing on the vehicle, people, pets, and just about anything that may obstruct its way as it moves down. If the sensors are working correctly, the door will automatically stop or reverse upwards if it comes into contact with something while it’s closing. This can prevent serious accidents, such as a child or a pet getting caught underneath the door.
Garage Door Sensors Troubleshooting
Garage door sensors must work properly at all times. As a homeowner, you have to ensure that they’re working. It can be harder to maintain in older models, especially because they tend to have errors and are more prone to wearing out.
Faulty garage door sensors will become overactive or over-responsive. While this may sound okay, it won’t give the opener accurate movements. If the sensors sense an obstruction even though the garage doorway is clear, it will pause the door’s closing motion and reverse it or get it stuck in that position. Meanwhile, garage door sensors could also be faulty when the doors continue to close down even when there’s an obstruction. This is a risky error that needs emergency repair.
There are several reasons that can cause a garage door opener and the photo eye sensors to have errors:
Misaligned sensors. Usually, the two photo eye sensors on each end of the garage door will get misaligned. If they aren’t in the right position, the signal to the opener won’t be accurate. Realigning the sensors involves loosening the wing nuts on the encasing and then doing the necessary adjustments for the sensors.
Dirt and debris. Even though your sensors face inside your garage, they will still be exposed to the elements. The lens can get dirty easily, which can interrupt the signal to the opener. Cleaning them regularly using a soft cloth can help keep them working properly.
Faulty wiring. Garage door sensors could also have electrical issues with tripping wires or damaged internal connections. Having these checked by a professional will ensure that they work correctly.
Can I Retrofit My Garage Door Sensors?
Garage door sensors have only been around in 1993, so homeowners who have older garage door openers might wonder if it’s possible to have sensors connect with an older opener model. It might work fine in some openers, but not in others. It’s best to consult with a garage door repair professional about retrofitting photo eye sensors.
Of course, the most likely advice from a technician would be just to upgrade your existing garage door opener. If you’ll tally all the years that the opener has worked, it’s really time to replace it if it’s over 15 or 20 years old. It will undoubtedly be past the end of its prime condition and will need to be replaced.
Of course, the most likely advice from a technician would be just to upgrade your existing garage door opener. Aside from being operable with the latest garage door sensors in the market, having a new opener will also be more energy-efficient, more smooth in daily cycles, and generally improve your garage door safety.
Fix Your Garage Door Sensors Today
If you’re having trouble with your garage door sensors, garage door opener, and other movement mechanisms in your doors, you need a reliable professional team to help you immediately. We are your 24 hour garage door repair specialists who can come to your aid anytime you need residential garage door service. Get in touch with us today to get started.