As technology continues to progress, more and more things are now being automated.
With the help of technology, controlling your home systems is becoming so much easier.
The same can be said to be true with your overhead garage doors.
There is now a lot of technology out there which can help you further make your door’s functions more efficient and at the same time raising your safety bars at home.
From garage door openers to sensor and wireless operations, technology has been influencing even the garage door industry.
However, what should you do if one of these included technologies causes you trouble?
Today we will be discussing how to fix a broken garage door sensor and what you can do to prevent this from happening.
What you need to know about garage door sensors
Garage door sensors are mechanisms that let your garage door opener know if there is any obstruction under the door and if there isn’t tell it to close the garage door.
Sensors work by shooting off infrared light to the receiver sensor found at the other end of your garage door.
When something obstructs the path of the light, it gives the idea that there is an obstruction and as such will command your system not to proceed with the usual activities.
The existence of sensors opens up a lot of possibilities for your overhead garage door’s mechanical system.
It does not only provide additional security for you and your family but you can also use it to automate the opening and closing of your garage door without having to use a remote or pressing a switch.
This makes things much more convenient for the average user.
Why is my garage door sensor not to be working
There are a number of reasons why your garage door sensor is not working.
Others may be remedied with a simple fix while others might take more effort.
Here are some of the possible reasons as to why your sensors are not working:
- There is an obstruction on the sensor’s beam
- The sensor is not connected to the power supply
- The sensor’s lenses are dirty
- Presence of moist on the sensor
- The sensors are misaligned
- The sensors are broken and need replacement
The first five are easy to fix but it will take you more effort to remedy the last reason.
Let us slowly discuss how to fix each so that you can have your sensors working in no time.
If an obstruction is found on the path of the sensor’s beam all you need to do is remove it.
Make sure that nothing is standing on the light’s path and your sensor will immediately go back to working like it used to.
For the second problem on the list, all you need to do is connect it to the power supply.
Once that is done it should be up and running.
Need to complicate the problem, the simpler the fix is the better.
If the above options still do not solve the problem for you, then maybe your sensors are dirty.
If this is the case, all you need to do is wipe them clean.
It is entirely possible that dirt has accumulated on it over time that is why your sensor stopped functioning.
Another possible reason why your sensor is not working could be due to water exposure.
When this happens, it is entirely possible that your sensor stops working. Try drying them out and waiting for a day.
After that, try testing them out if they work or not.
If none of the above seems to be the case for you, you can try realigning your sensor’s transmitter and receiver.
Usually, optical sensors need to be aligned as the receiver needs to read the signal transmitted by the other sensor.
Thus sometimes, simple realignment can do the trick.
If nothing else seems to work, then one possibility remains. Your sensor is no longer working due to wear and tear over time.
When this happens, it is time to replace your garage door sensors with new ones.
Here are 5 easy steps you can follow on how to replace your garage door sensors:
- Disconnect the defective sensors from the power outlet
- Remove the sensors
- Connect the wires of the new safety sensor
- Install the newly assembled safety sensor
- Align the sensors and connect them to a power source
Follow these five easy steps and you should be good to go.
If the instructions seem unclear to you, you may try and check the video below to guide you on your task.
Conclusion
And there you go, your sensors should now be fixed and working well.
Hopefully, we have successfully answered your question on how to fix a broken garage door sensor.
Now that you know why your sensors are not working, then you can easily assess the problem and address it appropriately.
If after following the above advice and nothing still seems to work, then we suggest seeking out professional help so your problem can be addressed appropriately.
Looking for a garage door repair company near you? If you live in Calgary, then look no more, Kald Gart Doors is here for you.
We offer emergency garage door services to all our customers out there, 24 hours a week.
No matter the time of the day, just give us a call and we will always be available to listen to your concerns.
You can reach us out by calling 587-316-9739 or visiting our location in Calgary.
What are you waiting for? Let us help you with your garage door needs. Contact us now!
