Garage doors are an important part of almost every home, but there isn’t magic behind the opening and closing of these doors—it’s technology. Technology is wonderful, but it doesn’t always work as you want it to. Many different variables get in the way, but it’s tricky to know what those variables are. There are multiple reasons why your garage door sensor may not be working, but thankfully, there are also multiple ways to get the sensor up and working again.
How Do Garage Door Sensors Work?
Before diving deeper into why your garage door sensor isn’t working, it’s beneficial to break down what a garage door sensor is and how it works in the first place. In 1993, federal law began requiring every new garage door to have a safety sensor that would detect if there were obstacles in the way of the garage door. Before 1993, the garage door system would open and close when you hit the button, but they wouldn’t stop until it finished closing or if they had hit something. Without sensors, the system wouldn’t know if there was a trash can, pet, car, or person in the way, and it would try closing on top of them. This could lead to different injuries and even death.
Sensors became required in 1993, but how do they work? These safety sensors have a photo eye. You’ll have one on both sides of your garage door, about six inches off the ground at the highest, and these sensors create an invisible line across your garage door. When the door closes, the sensors will detect if something crosses in the way of this line and automatically stop and reverse. It’s a wonderful safety mechanism, but the technology can be incredibly sensitive, making the sensor not work as it should.
What might cause garage door sensors to stop functioning?
Many people are asking how to resolve the ‘LiftMaster garage door sensors not working’ issue. Read through the end of the blog and understand what types of procedures every homeowner should follow for overhead door safety sensor troubleshooting.
Objects in the Way
A common reason your garage door sensor isn’t working is an obstruction. The sensors check for obstructions to stop the door from closing, but sometimes, there’s nothing there. Often, people use their garages to store miscellaneous stuff, including:
- Boxes
- Bikes
- Packs of water
- Pots
- Soil
- Gardening equipment
There are many random elements in the average person’s garage, and it only takes one item being a little in the sensors’ path to trigger it. Thankfully, the fix for this is easy. To close the garage, just find and remove the obstruction blocking the sensor. If it’s still not closing, there may be another issue.
Too Much Moisture
Moisture is either a constant worry or something you never think about, depending on where you live. Construction workers and manufacturers consider the humidity in areas with high humidity and adapt their building materials accordingly, but it’s not always possible to do so perfectly. Your garage door sensors aren’t the most weather resistant, meaning they can easily get wet from rain, sprinklers, or excess humidity.
This moisture can cause your sensors to malfunction, creating issues when opening and closing the door. Depending on the amount of water damage, there are different fixes you can look at. Occasionally, you may just need to let the sensor dry, and then it should start working again. However, in other situations, the damage may be extensive, and the sensors could have shorted. In these situations, you should consider investing in a new garage door sensor and improved weatherstripping to prevent water and excessive moisture from entering the system.
Power Supply Issues
Another reason your sensors may not work is that you are having issues with the power supply. Without a solid connection to your power, the sensor will not work, and the garage door will not close. The issue can sometimes be more complicated than simply saying that the sensor doesn’t have power. The first indication of a power supply issue is a ‘garage door sensor no light’ error. The garage door sensor has lights, and if those lights are completely off, you might not have power running to your opener. If the lights are still on, the power connection could be unstable. Garage door sensors use batteries as their main supply, so consider replacing your batteries. This may fix the issue, but if it doesn’t, the sensors may need to be replaced.
Dirty Sensors
Dirty sensors are another reason your garage door may not be closing. The sensor creates a line with the other sensor on the opposite end of your garage door, but this little lens can get dirty if you’re not regularly cleaning it. In the garage, there are a wide variety of contaminants that can dirty a sensor’s lens, such as
- Dirt
- Dirt dauber nests
- Spiderwebs
- Car exhaust
- Pollution
- Dust
Any one of these is enough to cloud your lens just enough that your garage door won’t close. It doesn’t take much to block the lens to the point where the sensor thinks there’s an object in the way. Thankfully, cleaning this lens is easy. A soft cloth is all you need, but if the lens is still slightly dirty and not working, you can add a small amount of water to the cloth.
Poor Alignment
Another common reason your sensors may not work is that they’re just poorly aligned. Both sensors must be at the same height and pointing toward each other to work. Otherwise, the laser connecting the two won’t form. Without this connection, the door won’t close. Thank goodness, this problem is not too difficult to solve. Put both the sensors at the same height, and if the LED lights illuminate, you have proper alignment. If the lights don’t illuminate, you might need to move one sensor slightly to find the optimal alignment. Another solution is tightening the bracket or screws to keep the sensor in place instead of moving around.
Normal Aging
Unfortunately, another reason why your sensor may not be working is that it’s just old. Years of use accumulate wear and tear, which can cause your sensor to prematurely degrade. Almost all pieces of technology degrade over time, and it may just be time to get a new sensor. However, before resorting to this decision, be sure to check all of the other options first. You would rather not purchase a new sensor and realize it wasn’t working just because there was a box in the way. A garage door sensor may not work for many reasons, but you can fix it if you know how to find the problem! Some fixes are easy and require little intervention, but others may require professional help. Contact Steel City Garage Doors. We are a garage door service in Pittsburgh that can help you with your garage door issues 24–7.
Preventive Maintenance Tips
Preventing a garage sensor issue is often easier than fixing it. Here are the tips that you need to follow for maintaining a smooth-running sensor. If your ‘LiftMaster or Chamberlain garage door opener sensors not working’ error, you can follow these easy maintenance tips to keep the sensor area clean and find the issues much easier.
Monthly Maintenance Checklist:
- Wipe the lenses and keep the sensor clean of dust and grime.
- Always inspect the wiring for damages and loose connections.
- Test the sensor alignments checked by the LED lights.
- Check for all obstructions in the path of the beam.
- Test the door reversal by placing the objects in the path during closing.
- Inspect the brackets and screws to make sure the sensors aren’t loose and wobbling.
What are the Seasonal Tips ?
To keep the garage door sensor working, you must know these facts.
- In winter, always check for snow or ice buildup around the sensor areas.
- In spring, check for the insect next and be careful about pollen.
- As a summer precaution, be aware of humidity- and moisture-related issues.
- In the fall season, watch out for leaf dust from wind gusts.
These tips are for the primary checkout and precautions. But for serious maintenance and internal repair, you must consult the professionals at Steel City Garage Doors by filling out the contact form.
When Should You Call a Garage Door Sensor Expert?
Some garage door sensor issues are easy to fix by using cloth and a screwdriver. Others, like complex wiring issues or failed sensors, require repair and interference from the expert.
If your garage door’s sensor is not fixed with a cloth or a screwdriver. Professionals should handle complex writing issues and failed sensors. Even after attempting all potential simple fixes, your door still refuses to close. If you are unsure of how to inspect the electrical connections safely, it’s the right time to call for help.
At Steel City Garage Doors, we provide 24/7 repair services for garage doors. We will fix the sensor and motor issues faster and safer.
Final Thoughts
A malfunctioning garage door sensor is frustrating, but in most cases, the fix is simple. Whether it’s temporary dirt or mold buildup, power loss, or alignment issues. Taking too much time to identify and understand the problem can actually cost you patience and money and increase your stress.
Understanding the sensor’s working process and maintenance process can make your home much safer and more convenient. Therefore, when you have a problem, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Steel City Garage Doors by reaching out to us or just making a call to (412) 504-7100 today and let us help you keep your garage door system running like new.
