Garage door
As a safety precaution, your garage door is equipped with a sensor to keep it from closing if an object — like a child, pet, or your vehicle — is in its path while closing.
Over time those sensors can become misaligned or dirty, or simply stop working properly. By taking a few minutes to test your sensors, you can rest easy knowing that you’re keeping your family and vehicles safe from injury.
Grab a few delivery boxes and a lint-free cloth to complete this task.
CHECK IT OUT
Grab a few delivery boxes that are taller than your garage sensor height, which is generally about 6 inches from the ground. Open your garage door then place one box in the garage doorway before pressing the button on your remote or garage wall that closes the door.
Did the garage door stop? Great! Your sensors are correctly aligned.
Did your garage door crush the box? It’s time to check the sensor alignment. Is one of the sensor lights blinking? Tighten the bracket screw attached to the sensor or bend the bracket back in position. Once the sensor is properly aligned, the sensor will stop blinking.
Next, open your garage door and remove the crushed box and replace with a new one. Close the garage door once again. If it crushes the box, it’s time to clean the sensors.
DUST IT OFF
You’re not alone if it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your sensor. Dirt, dust, and cobwebs can stop them from functioning properly. Gently clean them off with a lint-free cloth then test with a new cardboard box.
MAKE SENSE OF IT
If you’re still crushing boxes after cleaning off your sensors, carefully take a look at the wires. Are they frayed? If so, it’s time to replace them. Have the sensors recently been soaked by rain, sprinklers, or a pressure washer? They may need time to dry out. Test again a few hours later and if the garage door continues to crush the box, the sensors may be damaged and need replaced.
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