Safety sensor repair
Your garage door has two small sensors near the floor, one on each side of the opening. They send an invisible beam across the doorway, and if anything breaks that beam while the door is closing, it reverses automatically. It's a critical safety feature, especially if you have kids or pets. But when those sensors act up, your door won't close properly, and it can be frustrating to figure out why.
Warning signs of a sensor issue
- The door starts to close and immediately reverses back up.
- The door won't close at all from the wall button or remote, but works if you hold the wall button down continuously.
- The opener lights blink a specific number of times after the door reverses (this is an error code).
- One or both sensor indicator lights are off, dim, or flickering.
- The door closes fine sometimes but not others, with no obvious pattern.
How we fix it
We check the sensor alignment first, since even a small bump can knock them out of position. We clean the lenses (Arizona dust builds up fast), check the wiring for damage or loose connections, and test the sensors' signal. If a sensor has failed internally, we replace it. We also verify that the sensors are mounted at the correct height and angle per the manufacturer's specs, and we test the door through several cycles to make sure it's responding properly.
Why this repair matters
Safety sensors exist for a very important reason: they prevent the door from closing on a person, pet, or object in the doorway. A door that closes on an obstruction can cause serious injury or property damage. Federal law has required safety sensors on all residential garage door openers since 1993. If yours aren't working, getting them fixed isn't just a convenience issue; it's a safety priority.
Typical timeline
Most sensor issues are resolved in 30 minutes to an hour. Alignment and cleaning are quick fixes. Wiring repairs or sensor replacement may take a bit longer, but it's still one of the faster service calls we do.
Pricing
Sensor repair is priced based on what's needed — alignment, cleaning, wiring repair, or sensor replacement. We provide an exact quote after diagnosing the issue. Call for a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my door close fine sometimes but not others?
Intermittent sensor issues are often caused by direct sunlight hitting one of the sensors at certain times of day, vibration from the door's movement gradually shifting alignment, or a loose wire that makes and breaks contact. Our technician will pinpoint the exact cause.
Can I bypass the sensors to close my door?
You can close the door by holding the wall button down continuously, which overrides the sensor, but we don't recommend relying on this. The sensors are a safety system, and bypassing them defeats their purpose. Get them repaired properly so the automatic safety feature works as intended.
My sensor lights are on but the door still won't close. What's going on?
If both sensor lights are on and steady, the issue may not be the sensors at all. It could be a problem with the opener's logic board, the close-force settings, or the travel limits. Our technician can diagnose the real cause and get it sorted out.