Heavy loads always pose a safety risk, especially your bulky garage door. Without a layer of protection, there’s a serious chance that a faulty overhead door can collapse on you.
Thankfully, garage door systems now come with sensors, which prevent the doors from dropping down if something is blocking their way.
But with how efficient the sensors are at preventing incidents and injuries, you still can’t put your full trust in them.
Many factors would eventually cause the sensors to malfunction and fail to perform their purpose.
If you’re not vigilant enough, you’ll find yourself and your loved ones at risk of injury, should the sensor continue to malfunction.
You need to know when the sensors are down and what to do in response.
This guide on how to fix a broken garage door sensor is handy information for you as a garage door owner.
How to Identify a Broken Garage Door Sensor
To determine if your garage door sensors need repair, you have to identify the problem with them first.
- Obstructions. If your garage door isn’t closing fully, there might be something in the sensors’ way. Remove this obstruction, and the door should function normally.On the other hand, if there’s an obstruction, but your door still closes down, there’s something wrong with the sensors.
- Power Supply. A lack of power often causes a malfunctioning sensor. Check the LED light on the sensors. If one or both are turned off, you have to connect them to the power supply properly.
- Dirty Lenses. Make sure to clean the lenses since dirt builds upon them. Covering of dirt prevents the sensors from properly detecting obstructions.
- Moisture. If your sensors are exposed to moisture such as droplets from rain or sprinklers, it can get faulty. Dry the sensors and if possible, move them to another spot to prevent moisture from affecting them.
- Alignment. Over time, your garage door sensor can be out of alignment, which makes them malfunction. If one of the LED light is blinking red or turned off, the sensors need to be realigned.
- Wear and Tear. Like any device, sensors also have a time limit. If your sensors have been in service for more than ten years, then it’s time for a replacement.
Troubleshooting your Garage Sensors
If you’re still not sure what’s wrong with the sensors, here is an essential troubleshooting guide to help you.
1) Measure how high the sensors are from the floor. Get objects that you can sacrifice for the test, such as cardboard boxes. Make sure they are taller than the sensors’ height.
2) Place your test object under the door and within the detection range of the sensors. Press the close button.
If the doors stop before they hit the object, then the sensors are working correctly. Otherwise, the sensors are malfunctioning.
3) Check for the alignment of the sensors. You can quickly identify this if one of the sensors is blinking. Adjust the placement of the blinking sensor. Fix the tightness of the screws or unbend the bracket until the blinking stops.
4) Test the sensors again to see if the problem is fixed. If it still drops and hits your test subject, check the lenses.
5) Using a soft cloth, clean the lenses of the sensor. Make sure to remove any built-up dirt or spider webs.
6) Repeat the test to check if the sensors work properly now.
If you’ve done all the steps above and the sensors still don’t work, check if your sensors have built-up moisture.
Dry the sensor and check if it’s still functional.
Should the sensor still be faulty, replacements may be necessary.
Do the same if you find damages to the wirings.
For an in-depth demonstration on how to fix a broken garage door sensor, watch this video.
Get Expert Repairs for your Sensors
The best you can do for your garage door is to call for professional technicians, like Overhead Door Repair Pros.
Knowing how to fix a broken garage door sensor is the least of what our team is capable of doing.
We are always ready for any concerns you have with your garage doors.
Our experts will respond to your issues in no time and deal with them efficiently.
Call (587) 804-2072 to get your sensor and other garage door issues fixed by skilled professionals.
