Blog | Reasons a Garage Door Sensor Stops Working

Common Reasons a Garage Door Sensor Stops Working & How to Fix It

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By law and regulation, all garages should have working sensors to prevent damages and injuries. Garage door sensors are electronic devices that require electricity to work. These devices connect to the garage door opener to operate the automated function inside the garage. Moreover, the sensors need to be aligned with each other to detect the safety function of the opener. Without a consistent power source, the sensors will not work.

The most common damages to the sensor don’t only involve the sensor unit itself. Since other items are connected to the sensor, any problems with other parts can incite sensor malfunction. One of the most typical causes of the problem of an undamaged sensor is the power supply. Nevertheless, any power issue within the garage needs professional power technicians.

signs of a power issue

There are some common signs of power issues inside the garage. The first step you need to do is assess the sensor devices individually. If you want to test the full functionality of the garage door sensors, it’s best to check the entire garage. Other parts of the mechanism and the garage condition may affect the function of the sensors.

Here are some of the most common signs of power supply issues inside the garage:

inconsistent led light from the sensors

Since the sensors rely on electricity, the entire operation and function of the sensors depends on the power supply. Having no electricity means you don’t have a working safety measure inside the garage. You may need to access the garage manually and attend to the issue.

Check the two sensors that are aligned opposite each other on the tracks. both devices should be flashing a dot of light. The receiving sensor should have a green LED that indicates the detection of the sending sensor. Before assessing the LED lights of the sensors, know how to adjust garage door sensors to assure alignment.

inconsistent power activity inside the property

There are many electronic devices inside the garage and even the property. If appliances and equipment are not working well, then the issue is the power supply. Check any news and announcements from your power service provider. Usually, power companies will announce power outages and lack of supply to prepare property owners.

For old properties, the power source may be a more noticeable issue. As electrical systems become older, the efficiency of power usage is not the same as before. You may experience some lags in using devices, or the sensors may start blinking and shutting off at once. Another method to verify the power conditions in your property is by checking the utility bill and assessing usage numbers.

difficulties to close the garage door

When the power source doesn’t provide enough sensor power supply, you’ll experience some difficulties inside the garage. If the garage is suddenly too heavy to close, the sensor may be sending some false signals to the opener. This deters the full function of the door sensors.

The lack of enough electricity causes the sensor to malfunction longer. Moreover, other devices inside the garage that require electricity, like the opener, won’t function properly as well. If less electricity is powering the opener, then the sensors and opener can’t work to keep the garage safe. Always check for any changes in the movement or the force of moving garage door panels in the tracks.

blown electric fuses

Blown electric fuses may be one of the reasons that the sensors are not working. The drop in voltage causes the fuse to blow and stop any extra power flow around the property. Electric fuses are one of the safety measures for the property’s electrical system. To prevent overheating and overcurrent of power, the fuses blow to cut the electricity.

An electric fuse protects all electronic devices from receiving too much power. Overcurrent in any electronic device like the sensors can cause damage. If this happens, you’ll need a service that knows how to install garage door sensors. You may also need to book electricians to replace and inspect the blown fuse device.

damages to sensor wire

solutions to power issues

There are two ways to tackle the issue with the sensor power supply. First, you can call the company that provides the power in the block and inquire about the problem. Power companies send out their teams to check the power lines which may be causing the sensors to malfunction.

Second, you can book for a garage door company to inspect and assess any damage to the sensors. If the garage door sensors are not working due to the long-run damage from the power source, it’s best to invest in a new set. Many affordable models and sets around markets for each garage door type.

Book An Appointment With A Garage Door Repair Company For Working Sensors

Here at King Garage Door Repair, we offer our services to help garage owners with garage door sensors. The power source of any property highly affects the function of almost all aspects of the property. Each home and establishment has a number of electronic devices that require maintenance and regular checks.

Suppose you need to replace the existing garage door sensors due to power damages, book for professional garage door repair technicians. Our team has experience dealing with sensors that incur damage from the power supply. Give our team a call to set up new garage door sensors in place. We can also check if the power supply matches the amount needed for the sensors to work correctly.