Garage Door Photo Eye Troubleshooting

Garage door photo eyes are essential safety devices that prevent the door from closing on people or objects. If your garage door is not closing properly, the photo eyes may be misaligned or obstructed.

To troubleshoot your garage door photo eyes, follow these steps:

1. Check for Obstructions

The first step is to check for any obstructions that may be blocking the photo eyes. Look for dirt, leaves, or other debris that may have accumulated on the lenses. If you find any obstructions, remove them and try closing the door again.

2. Clean the Lenses

If there are no obstructions, the next step is to clean the lenses of the photo eyes. Use a soft cloth and some mild soap to gently clean the lenses. Be careful not to scratch or damage the lenses.

3. Check the Alignment

The next step is to check the alignment of the photo eyes. The photo eyes should be facing each other and should be aligned so that the beams of light are crossing each other. If the photo eyes are not aligned, the door will not close properly.

4. Tighten the Screws

If the photo eyes are aligned, the next step is to tighten the screws that hold them in place. Loose screws can cause the photo eyes to move out of alignment.

5. Test the Photo Eyes

Once you have checked for obstructions, cleaned the lenses, checked the alignment, and tightened the screws, it is time to test the photo eyes. Close the garage door and then break the beam of light between the photo eyes. The door should stop closing immediately. If the door does not stop closing, the photo eyes may be damaged and need to be replaced.

6. Replace the Photo Eyes

If the photo eyes are damaged, they will need to be replaced. To replace the photo eyes, follow these steps:

Unplug the garage door opener.
Remove the old photo eyes.
Install the new photo eyes.
Plug in the garage door opener.
Test the photo eyes.

7. Reset the Garage Door Opener

Once you have replaced the photo eyes, you may need to reset the garage door opener. To reset the garage door opener, follow the instructions in your owner's manual.