Photo eye sensors are one of the many safety features modern garage doors are fitted with to keep both you and your property safe. Typically installed just a few inches above the ground, misaligned garage door photo eye sensors can prevent your garage door from closing as it should. If you’re having trouble with your garage door and you’ve ruled out any obvious physical damage, it could be something as simple as a misaligned photo eye causing the problem. Follow these simple steps to troubleshoot and realign a garage door photo eye.
Photo eye sensors are delicate pieces of equipment that need to be realigned every so often. In most cases, one of the most obvious signs of a misaligned photo eye is your garage door not closing. In some modern garage door systems, however, a light on the garage door opener may flash or it might make a noise to let you know your photo eye is misaligned – making troubleshooting that much easier. Adjusting and aligning the photo eye itself is typically an easy, four-step process:
Check for Obstructions
Anything that breaks the beam of light going from sensor to sensor will stop your garage door from properly closing. Oftentimes, this could be caused by something in your garage being moved or accidentally knocked over in front of the photo eye sensor. Make sure the area around the garage door and photo eye sensors are clear and that nothing is obstructing them.
Check the Sensor Lights
Each photo eye sensor has an LED indicator light on its side, and both should be lit steadily. An unlit or flickering LED could indicate that the photo eye sensor is either damaged or misaligned. If the LED on one of your sensors isn’t lit or flashing, gently move it with your hand and align it so it points directly at the opposite sensor until it lights up again. An LED that still doesn’t light up after being moved could indicate more complex electrical issues, at which point it’s best to call a qualified garage door technician to take a closer look.
Clean the Sensors
If the photo sensor eye LED lights are lit but your garage door still won’t open or close properly, it could simply be a case of dirty sensors. Over time, rain, dust, or dirt can gather on a sensor’s lens and prevent it from working as it should. Gently wipe your sensors using a damp cloth to remove any built-up dirt or debris.
Adjust the Pivot Bracket
Photo eye sensors are typically kept in place using pivot brackets. These allow the sensor angle to be adjusted to compensate for any uneven walls or tracks. Whether it’s due to your house settling, a bump, or any other reason, pivot brackets can sometimes come loose and cause sensor eye misalignment. Luckily, re-aligning them is as simple as loosening the screws holding the bracket in place, and moving it until both sensors are pointing at each other.
If you’ve tried the above and still can’t get your garage door to work properly, then it’s time to call in the experts. With decades of experience serving the local Calgary community, The Door House has the knowledge and expertise needed to troubleshoot any garage door problem and get it working again in no time. Give us a call at 403-543-6900 or fill out our online contact form to request a free quote on any of our services.