Your garage door is probably the heaviest moving item in your home. Weighing well over 100lbs, it will go up and down several times a day. For the most part it'll just work fine.

When there are children, pets or even a bicyclist nearby, a small unit attached low on the door can mean the difference between a near miss and serious injury. If you’d like to learn more about them or if you need a reputable expert such as local garage door & opener llc to check your garage door system, we have included some information regarding why garage door sensors are important.

What Garage Door Sensors Actually Do

Photo eye sensors are used in most residential openers. There are two small units fitted either side of the door, a few inches off the floor. One emits and invisible infra-red beam, the other detects it. When something interrupts the beam whilst the door is closing, the opener will stop and reverse.

Since 1993 residential openers sold in the USA must have some form of entrapment protection. Almost all modern systems have this.

Why They Matter for Your Family

Children and pets are protected. It is easy to forget a door is closing and children and pets will run through the door. The sensors will activate instantly as soon as they break the beam.

The door will reverse immediately. Although openers have a force setting so that the door reverses if it hits something, it will have hit it. This means that photo eyes are much more safe to use as they will activate before hitting a person or pet, and are easier on your property.

Your things are protected. Things such as your cars bumper, bike or bin, can be saved from damage. You will not have to pay for repairs as the door will reverse rather than crush and your opener will not be put under stress.

Signs Your Sensors Need Attention

Sensors are simple, but they do fail. Watch for these signs:

• The door closes but then reverses for no apparent reason

• The door will not close

• Sensor indicator lights flash or remain off (see your opener's manual to determine what the lights mean)

• Sensors are damaged, bent or pointing in different directions

How to Test Your Sensors

Test them once a month. It takes a minute:

1. Ensure that there is nothing or nobody in the doorway.

2. Press the remote or button on the wall to close the door.

3. Whilst it is closing, put an object such as a broom handle through the beam.

4. The door should stop and reverse immediately.

A flat item (such as a board) can be placed on the floor so that it will stop the door. The door should reverse. If either of these tests fail then do not use the auto-close facility and have the system checked.

Do not disable or override any sensors. This may only cause short term relief. The sensors are the only safety feature provided to help avoid trapping. If you clean the lenses and adjust the brackets back into place and still have an issue then contact an experienced technician.

Final Thoughts

The garage door sensors are some of the most important safety features in your home. They are small, low cost and easy to forget. A few minutes a month will ensure they are working correctly.

Do also consider your door. Often a garage door will be the weakest part of the house in a storm prone area so many homeowners look into hurricane proof garage doors. Whilst no door can be completely unbreakable, ensure that whatever you choose has the correct wind load and impact ratings. Ask your installer to fit and test your opener and safety sensors when upgrading. A strong door and working sensor will give you two layers of protection on your home.

FAQs

1. How do I know if my garage door sensors are working?
Close the door and pass an object through the beam. If the door stops and reverses, the sensors are working. Steady indicator lights on both units usually mean they are aligned, but check your manual.

2. Why does my garage door reverse before it closes?
The usual causes are misaligned sensors, a dirty lens, sunlight hitting the receiver, or loose wiring. Wipe the lenses, check that both units point at each other, and inspect the wires.

3. Can I turn off my garage door sensors?
You shouldn't. Bypassing them removes the protection that prevents the door from closing on a person, pet, or object. Fix the underlying problem instead.

4. How often should I check or replace my sensors?
Test them monthly. Sensors have no fixed lifespan, so replace them if they are damaged, unreliable, or keep failing after cleaning and realigning.