How To Align Garage Door Sensors

How To Align Garage Door Sensors

The safety sensors on your garage door are a key part of keeping you, your family, and anyone else around you safe. They work by sending out a beam of light and receiving it from the opposite side. However, a misaligned garage door sensor can prevent your safety sensors from communicating effectively. This can lead to the door shutting unexpectedly or even closing on someone or something.

Check The Power

One of the most common reasons for your sensors to not work properly is lack of power. You can check the small LED lights on each sensor to make sure they are receiving the correct amount of power. If you see a blinking light, this is an indication that the sensor is out of alignment. Simply tighten the screws on the bracket holding the LED lights until they are aligned properly. Once this is done, you should have a functioning door sensor!

Check The Lenses

The lenses on your garage door sensors are like the lenses in a camera, and they can easily get dirty. Use a soft cloth and mild cleanser to wipe them clean. If the lens is dirty, it can interfere with the beam that connects your garage door safety sensors to each other. This impedes the sensor’s ability to “see” the opposite safety sensor and signal the door to close. Alternatively, the lens could be misaligned with the sensor’s mounting bracket. Sometimes this can be corrected by tightening the wing nuts on the brackets. If you are not sure how to do this, it may be better to call a professional for help. They can do a thorough inspection and make sure the safety sensors are properly aligned with the door.

Check The LED Lights

If the LED lights are blinking red when you try to close your garage door, it may be an indication that the sensors are misaligned. These are a vital part of your garage door’s safety features. These sensors emit a beam of infrared light that crosses the opening of your garage door, stopping it if an object blocks the beam. They are meant to prevent people or pets from falling down, getting caught under the garage door, and causing harm or damage. The LED lights should always be green to indicate that they are working properly. If they are flashing red, then it’s time to fix them.

Check The Path Of The Sensor Beam

Garage doors have sensors on each side that send an infrared beam to the opposite lens if anything is obstructing the path. The door won’t close until the beam has a clear path, so these sensors are an important safety feature. If one of the sensors is misaligned, however, the beam won’t reach the receiving sensor. That could cause your garage door to keep reversing and opening. You can check the alignment of your garage door sensors by looking at their LED lights. They should glow green when both of them are aligned correctly. If they don’t, you may need to adjust them manually. Depending on the system you have, you may need to loosen screws or move other components so that one sensor can be directed at the other. This should be a safe fix, but you can also call a professional to help if needed.

Categorised in: Garage Door Inspection, Garage Door Installation, Garage Door Maintenance, Garage Door Repair, Garage Doors