How To Adjust Garage Door Sensors

Most modern garage doors have a safety feature that prevents the door from closing if something is blocking the path. This feature is activated by a pair of sensors that are mounted on either side of the door opening. When the sensors are aligned, they send a signal to the opener that allows the door to close. If the sensors are out of alignment, the door will not close, or it may close and then reverse direction. Adjusting the sensors is a simple process that can be done with a few basic tools.

Safety First

Before you begin adjusting the sensors, it is important to disconnect the power to the garage door opener. This will prevent the door from accidentally closing while you are working. You can disconnect the power by unplugging the opener from the outlet or by turning off the circuit breaker that powers the outlet.

Adjusting the Height of the Sensors

The first step is to adjust the height of the sensors. The sensors should be mounted at a height of about 6 inches above the floor. To adjust the height, loosen the screws that hold the sensors in place and move the sensors up or down until they are at the correct height. Once the sensors are at the correct height, tighten the screws to hold them in place.

Adjusting the Alignment of the Sensors

Once the sensors are at the correct height, you need to adjust their alignment. To do this, loosen the screws that hold the sensors in place and move the sensors towards or away from each other until the lights on the sensors are aligned. Once the sensors are aligned, tighten the screws to hold them in place.

Testing the Sensors

Once you have adjusted the sensors, you need to test them to make sure that they are working properly. To do this, close the garage door and then place an object in the path of the door. The door should stop closing when it hits the object. If the door does not stop closing, the sensors may be out of alignment. Repeat the alignment process until the sensors are working properly.