Garage Door Sensor Repair

Since 1993, federal law has required all garage doors to have safety reversing sensors — the small photo-eye sensors mounted near the floor on each side of the door opening. These sensors detect objects in the door’s path and prevent it from closing, protecting children, pets, and property.

When these sensors malfunction, the most common symptom is a door that starts to close, reverses back up, and flashes the opener light. It’s one of the most frequent calls we receive, and it’s usually a straightforward fix.

Common Sensor Issues

• Misalignment — the sensors are knocked out of alignment, breaking the infrared beam
• Dirty lenses — dust, cobwebs, or grime blocking the sensor eye
• Sun interference — direct sunlight can overwhelm the sensor, common in west-facing garages in San Diego
• Wiring damage — rodents, lawn equipment, or foot traffic can damage sensor wires
• Failed sensor — the sensor unit itself has worn out and needs replacement

Before You Call: Quick Checks

You can try these steps yourself before calling a technician: Clean the sensor lenses with a soft cloth. Check that the small LED lights on each sensor are lit (green for the sending eye, amber for the receiving eye on most models). Make sure nothing is blocking the path between the sensors. If these steps don’t resolve the issue, give us a call.