Garage Opener Repair: How to Align Safety Sensors

When your garage door suddenly refuses to close, the safety sensors are often the culprit. These small but crucial devices can prevent serious accidents, but when they fall out of alignment, they can also be a major source of frustration. This common issue is a frequent reason homeowners seek out professional garage door opener repair, yet it’s often a problem you can solve on your own with a few simple steps. Understanding how to identify and correct misaligned sensors can save you time and keep your garage door operating safely and efficiently.

Safety sensors work by sending an invisible infrared beam across the opening of your garage door. If anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the opener’s motor immediately reverses, preventing the door from crushing an object, pet, or person. However, if the sensors are knocked out of alignment, the beam is permanently broken, and the opener will interpret this as a constant obstruction, refusing to close the door. At Local Garage Door Repair Company, we specialize in aligning and repairing these safety sensors to keep your garage door functioning smoothly.

How to Properly Align Your Garage Door Safety Sensors

Aligning your garage door safety sensors is a straightforward process that usually requires no special tools. The goal is to ensure that the sending sensor and the receiving sensor are pointing directly at each other, thereby creating an uninterrupted connection. A solid indicator light on both sensors generally confirms a successful alignment.

Identifying Misaligned Sensors

The first step, therefore, is to confirm that misalignment is the issue. To do this, look at the two sensors, which are small black boxes located on each side of your garage door track, about six inches from the floor. Each sensor has an LED light. One is the sending unit (usually green or amber), while the other is the receiving unit (usually red or amber).

If the sensors are working correctly, both LED lights should be solid and lit. However, if one or both lights are flickering or off, the sensors are either misaligned or there’s an obstruction. In such cases, check the area between the sensors for any items like boxes, tools, or even cobwebs that might be blocking the beam. Once the path is clear, the sensors themselves are likely the issue. Often, the problem occurs because one of the sensors gets bumped by a car, a lawnmower, or even a child’s toy, slightly altering its angle.

Step-by-Step Alignment Guide

Once you’ve confirmed that the sensors are the problem, you can begin the alignment process. First, start by cleaning the lenses on both sensors with a soft, dry cloth to remove any dust or grime that could be interfering with the beam.

Next, focus on the receiving sensor (the one with the flickering or unlit light). Typically, most sensors are attached to the track with a simple bracket and a wing nut. Therefore, loosen the wing nut just enough to be able to move the sensor with your hand. Slowly and gently adjust the sensor up, down, left, and right until its LED light becomes solid. At this point, you may need a partner to stand on the other side of the garage to help you see when the light turns on.

After the light becomes solid, carefully tighten the wing nut to secure the sensor in its new position. However, be sure not to move it again while tightening. Once secured, test the door by pressing the close button on your wall-mounted control. To ensure the safety feature is working properly, pass an object like a broom handle through the beam as the door is closing. As a result, the door should immediately reverse. If it doesn’t, or if you continue to have trouble keeping the sensors aligned, it may indicate a wiring issue or a failing sensor that needs professional attention. In such cases, contacting a specialist like Local Garage Door Repair Company is the safest option.