Are My Garage Door Sensors Bad? 5 Things to Consider Before Calling The Garage Door Pros
Many Phoenix Valley homeowners open and close their garage doors dozens of times a day without any real thought about how they operate. It's the perfect case of "you don't know what you got 'til it's gone."
There are a few common indications you may have a garage door malfunction. Consider these tips, before you decide to call in the garage door repair professionals at Garage Door Grunts.
Let’s start with the most obvious sign – your garage door doesn’t close properly. If you discover this problem, the sensor path is the first thing you should check, as any objects blocking the path will prevent the door from closing. This is a common garage door safety feature that prevents injury and damage to personal belongings. Other signs include flashing garage door opener lights, missing sensor light, or flashing sensor lights.
If you notice any of these signs, it is likely it is just your garage door sensor. If this is the case, here is how to manage the issue.
How to tell if garage door sensor is working properly:
Sensor path
Sensor power
Sensor lenses
Sensor moisture
Sensor alignment
Sensor wear & tear
Sensor Path – Make Sure Nothing is in Line of the Sensor
Garage door sensors block the door from closing if there is an object nearby or in line of the sensor beam. This safety mechanism ensures that the door doesn’t close when your car, child, or object is in the doorway.
Sensor Lenses – Clean the Sensor of Dirt & Dust
This is often the most common issue for many homeowners in the Valley of the Sun. Due to our often summer dust storms and the amount of debris that can enter the home during an Arizona monsoon, door sensor lenses can be covered in dirt.
Spring is the perfect time to make sure that you remove all dirt and dust from your lenses. This ensures your sensors will continue to work and function properly.
Sensor Power – Reconnect Sensor to Its Power Supply
A common issue many homeowners find is that the sensors have lost their power supply. Look for small LED lights on the sensors. If they’re turned on in both the sensors, then there is no issue with the power supply. If you are unable to find any lights in one or both the sensors, it means that there is a problem with the power supply which is causing the door to fail to respond.
Sensor Moisture – Dry Sensors if Wet
This can be another common issue for Phoenix homeowners during the monsoon season each year. If a sensor has wetness in or around the sensor it is very likely to cause a malfunction in its operating system. Often time this just requires that your sensors become completely dry before operating again.
Sensor Alignment – Make Sure Both Sensors Are Aligned
When both the sensors are misaligned, they will not work properly. Check if this is the cause by looking at the LED lights on both the sensors. You should use green lights if everything is aligned properly. When you see red lights flashing one, or lights off in another, check for the alignment.
Contact A Garage Door Service & Repair Specialist Near You
We always recommend that you contact a garage door repair company if you are ever concerned about your garage door operating correctly. We know the importance and the investment that a garage door can be to your home.
When it comes to narrowing down the issues, many homeowners, however, can identify a few potential issues before making that service call. Not only will this save you money, but will help you rest easy knowing your door is working properly. If your garage door doesn't seem to be functioning properly check to see if dirt and debris are blocking the sensor first. If you find after looking through these 5 tips that the door is still not working correctly, there may be a bigger issue.
Our team at Garage Door Grunts is happy and ready to serve whatever your garage door needs might be. Feel free to call us at 623-219-8460 or contact us here.