How to Line up Garage Door Safety Sensors

You likely use your garage door every day, and you depend on it to function reliably and safely whenever you go out or come home. A door that isn’t opening or closing properly can be an inconvenience to your daily routine, and it can also be a potential danger to you and your family if something goes wrong. That’s why it’s important to proactively address any functional issues with your garage door as soon as possible.

If your garage door isn’t working properly, aligning your garage door sensors may be the solution. Even a slight impact can knock the sensors out of alignment, so it’s a common problem you can often resolve with a little troubleshooting.

Do Your Garage Door Sensors Need Aligning?

Garage door safety sensors are located on each side of the garage door near the floor. They emit an infrared beam that can detect people or objects in the path of the garage door. If they detect anything, they’ll prevent the door from closing until the obstruction has moved out of the way. However, these sensors can prevent the door from properly shutting or opening if they get misaligned as well.

Look for a few common signs to determine if you need to align your garage sensors:

• Your garage door won’t close at all or only closes part of the way.
• The light on your receiving sensor is flashing on and off.
• Your sensors are visibly bent, crooked or otherwise not pointing directly at each other.

How to Line up Your Garage Door Sensors

When you know how to line up your garage door safety sensors, you can address issues that come up with them more easily. Remember as you work, however, that safety is your top priority. Be sure to call a professional if the situation turns out to be more complex than you expected.

If you suspect that aligning your garage door sensors will fix your door issues, follow these easy steps to try to identify and resolve the problem.

1. Clear Any Obstructions

Sometimes sensors can be particularly sensitive to potential obstacles in the vicinity, so make sure you clear the area all around the garage door. Whether it’s a large toolbox, your child’s lost glove or any number of other items that might have ended up in the garage, be sure everything is completely out of the way of the door.

2. Clean the Sensors

One quick potential solution for garage door sensor malfunctions is to clean them. Sometimes dirt, dust, rust or other debris obstructs the sensor so that it can’t receive the infrared beam effectively. With a damp cloth, gently clean the sensor to ensure it can clearly detect the opposite sensor’s ray.

3. Check the Sensor Positions

Make sure your sensors are completely straight and pointing at each other. You can check their angle by tying a string to each end and using a leveler to see if the line is straight. If it’s not, loosen their screws and reposition them until the string is level. Then screw them tightly back into place in their new positions, ensuring they remain level with each other.

4. Check Your Wiring System

If the other sensor adjustments you’ve made haven’t been effective, you might need to check on the electrical wiring for your garage door. Wear and tear, the elements or even pests like rodents might have broken or otherwise compromised the wiring system, so make sure it’s in good repair.

Turn to idc-Automatic for Your Garage Door Service Needs

If you’ve carefully checked and lined up your sensors and they still don’t work, or you’ve discovered that your garage door requires more serious repairs, call a trusted repair company like idc-Automatic for further assistance. When you need professional services and repairs for your garage door, give us a call at 763-786-4730 or fill out our online service request form to get prompt, reliable help.