Your garage adds a world of convenience and functionality to your home, but it’s only accessible when you have a functioning garage door. Most homeowners use a garage door opener, which requires a set of sensors for safety purposes. If your garage door sensors aren’t working, your door may refuse to open or close, leaving you with a garage that’s either inaccessible or open and unsecured. Our expert team at Overhead Garage Door can help you with any type of garage door sensor repair in the greater Chicago area.
Garage Door Sensor Repair in Greater Chicago
Overhead Garage Door, Inc. is a full-service garage door installation and repair company. We offer same-day, 24-hour emergency service throughout greater Chicagoland and southeast Wisconsin.
How Do Garage Door Sensors Work?
Garage door sensors transmit an infrared beam of light across the garage door opening to make sure there are no obstructions present when the door closes. One sensor transmits the beam, while the other sensor reads it. If the receiving sensor doesn’t detect a beam of light, the garage door won’t function.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 1990 mandated that garage doors include a feature that automatically puts them into reverse if they come in contact with an obstruction. In 1993, the act was amended to require a device that provides further protection against entrapment. For most garage doors, this comes in the form of a garage door sensor.
Garage door sensors are extremely important because they prevent the garage door from moving if there’s an obstruction. While the reverse function should theoretically prevent crush injuries, some doors have failed to reverse when coming into contact with a small, soft object, such as a child. Garage door sensors should be placed 6 inches from the ground, and they should always be functioning.
Can Garage Door Sensors Go Bad?
Garage door sensors can fail for many reasons. One common issue with garage door sensors is simple misalignment. If one of the sensors gets kicked or jostled out of place and no longer aligns perfectly with its counterpart, then the system won’t function. The first thing you should do if your garage door isn’t working is to check the sensors for proper alignment.
You can do this by tying a string to the bottom of both garage door sensor brackets in the same place. Hold a level at the center of the string to see if you need to move the brackets up or down. Position the eyes of the sensors so they directly face one another.
While you’re inspecting the sensors, take a moment to gently clean them with rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs. Garage door sensors can easily become caked in dust and dirt, which will block the infrared light. If the sensors are clean and aligned, you’ll need to troubleshoot the issue further.
How To Fix Garage Door Sensors
There are many types of garage door sensor repairs. Regardless of the underlying issue, it’s important to address any issue with your garage door sensors as quickly as possible. Without the proper garage door motion sensor repair, your door may refuse to close. If you do force the door to close, it’s important to acknowledge that the door is no longer capable of determining whether there’s an obstruction in its path. This means that it could close on your vehicle, your bike, a pet, or a person.
Garage Door Sensor Wire Repair
The garage door sensor is connected to the opening mechanism via a small rubber-coated wire. If there are no lights on your garage door sensors, the wire is the most likely culprit.
If this wire gets broken or otherwise damaged, you’ll need to either splice it back together or replace it completely to restore full function to your garage door. If you’re not familiar with electrical work, this isn’t something that you should attempt as a DIY job. Our professionals at Overhead Garage Door can assess the damage and let you know whether the issue can be solved with a simple garage door sensor wire repair or if you need to replace your sensor or sensor components.
Garage Door Sensor Bracket Repair
Your garage door sensors need to sit in solid brackets that keep them secure on either side of the door. If the brackets are loose or broken, your sensors will constantly come out of alignment and may even fall to the ground and get damaged. You can tell fairly easily if you have loose or broken brackets. You can get a bracket repair or replacement without having to replace your entire system as long as the sensor eyes are still functioning.
Garage Door Eye Sensor Repair
If the eyes of your garage door infrared sensor are clean and properly aligned, they should communicate with one another successfully. If your garage door sensors are blinking but the door doesn’t function, the eye sensors may be the problem. With long exposure to sunlight and years of wear and tear, the eye sensor can go bad. In this case, you may need to install a new system.
What Is the Typical Garage Door Sensor Repair Cost?
You can typically purchase a garage door sensor for around $100. For optimal results, it’s best to hire a professional for the sensor installation. Expect to pay about $200 for the installation, for a total cost of around $300. However, this may vary depending on the type of garage door, the full features and functionality of the sensor, and the scheduling and availability of the installation company.
Reliable Garage Door Repair in Chicagoland
A functioning garage door is essential for a safe and secure home. If your garage door sensors aren’t working, you should schedule a professional repair immediately. Overhead Garage Door offers 24-hour emergency garage door services throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Contact us today if you need garage door sensor repairs or new garage door opener installation. We’ll help you get your garage back in shape so you can rest assured that it’s functioning safely and your home’s entry points are properly secured.
Reliable Garage Door Repair in Greater Chicago
A functioning garage door is essential for a safe and secure home. If your garage door sensors aren’t working, you should schedule a professional repair immediately. Overhead Garage Door offers 24-hour emergency garage door services throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Contact us today if you need garage door sensor repairs or new garage door opener installation. We’ll help you get your garage back in shape so you can rest assured that it’s functioning safely and your home’s entry points are properly secured.