When garage door sensors are not working properly, the hassle it brings could ruin your entire day. It is especially true when there are valuable things in your garage, and you need to leave the house.
The good thing is that resetting your garage door sensors can solve the problem.
In this guide, North Denver Garage Doors will share ways on how to identify the mechanical issues in your garage door, reset the sensors, and prevent future sensor problems—all without the need to call a technician.
Let’s start.
Why Garage Door Sensors Matter?
Garage door sensors are small electronic components that are usually mounted on either side of the garage door near the ground. These devices are part of a safety system designed to prevent the door from closing if it senses something in its path.
Essentially, they work by sending an invisible infrared beam across the bottom of the door opening. If anything interrupts this beam, the door stops closing and often reverses.
If your garage door sensors are not working, the system may falsely detect an obstruction and keep the door from closing. In other cases, the door might close part way and then reverse or refuse to move entirely.
Common Signs Your Garage Door Sensors Aren’t Working
Before you reset anything, assess and make sure to identify the warning signs first. Here’s how you’ll know the garage door sensors are not working:
- The door starts to close but then reverses.
- The garage door won’t close unless you hold the wall button down.
- One or both sensor lights are off or blinking.
- The opener light blinks repeatedly when you try to close the door.
- The door closes partially, then reopens.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Reset Garage Door Sensors
Resetting garage door sensors is a straightforward process, but attention to detail matters. Let’s dive into the reset process.
Step #1: Unplug the Garage Door Opener
Above all else, safety first.
Unplug the opener unit from the power source before touching any components of the garage door. This helps prevent accidental activation while you are working on the sensors.
Step #2: Clean the Sensor Lenses
Dust, spiderwebs, and dirt may cover the infrared beam and cause false readings. Clean it using a soft microfiber cloth to gently wipe each sensor lens. It is best to avoid using chemicals as well, and use warm water and mild soap to clean the sensors instead.
Pro Tip: You may want to clean the surrounding area too. Leaves or cobwebs nearby may interfere even if the lenses are clear.
Step #3: Check the Sensor Alignment
Most systems have a green light on one sensor (receiver) and an amber light on the other (transmitter). Both should remain steady when aligned correctly.
Misalignment is one of the top reasons garage door sensors stop working. Here’s how to fix it:
- Each sensor should face the other directly. If one is slightly off, the beam can’t connect.
- Loosen the mounting brackets slightly.
- Adjust the sensor until both LEDs are lit solid (not blinking).
- Tighten the brackets once properly aligned.
Step #4: Inspect the Wiring
Look for any visible signs of damage, loose wires, or frayed insulation along the sensor wires. If you’re not confident working with wiring, this might be a good point to call a technician.
- Gently tug on each wire to ensure it’s securely connected.
- If wires are disconnected or corroded, re-strip the wire ends and reconnect.
- Make sure all wiring terminals are tightly secured.
Step #5: Reconnect the Power and Test
Now it’s time to reset the system:
- Plug the garage door opener back in.
- Press the garage door remote or wall button to close the door.
- Observe the sensor lights — they should stay steady if properly aligned and functional.
What If Resetting Doesn’t Work?
Sometimes, garage door sensors are not working due to issues often technicians only know. And resetting might not be the best solution.
Here’s what you might be dealing with:
- Sensor Malfunction. One of the sensors may have failed altogether. In this case, replacement is often the only option.
- Power Supply Issues. If neither sensor lights up at all, the issue may be with the garage door opener itself or the circuit board.
- Faulty Garage Door Opener Logic Board. If all else fails and your sensors are aligned, clean, and wired properly, the opener’s internal logic board may be malfunctioning.
When to Replace Instead of Reset
Resetting is a great first step, but sometimes sensors are too old or damaged to fix. Consider replacement if:
- The sensor lights don’t come on at all.
- The sensors have visible damage or cracked housings.
- You’ve cleaned, aligned, and rewired them — and they still fail.
Garage door sensor replacements are inexpensive and widely available at hardware stores or online.
Pro Tips to Keep Your Garage Door Sensors Working
Regular maintenance is the easiest way to prevent garage door sensors not working when you need them most. Want to avoid this headache in the future? Use these maintenance tips:
- Clean lenses monthly — especially during pollen-heavy or dusty seasons.
- Avoid bumping the sensors when cleaning or moving items in the garage.
- Keep the garage environment dry to prevent corrosion and rust.
- Inspect wires every few months for damage or wear.
Prevention and Maintenance are Key
Dealing with garage door sensors that are not properly working is a hassle. But with the right steps, you can resolve the issue even in minutes only. From cleaning and alignment to a full reset, most fixes are simple enough for homeowners to handle themselves.
After all, your garage door is a key part of your home’s security and convenience. Hence, it deserves proper care.
Do you need help?
If you’ve gone through all the steps and the sensors still won’t reset or function, don’t hesitate to call in a professional garage door technician.
Whether it’s a faulty sensor, bad wiring, or opener failure, professional garage door experts such as from North Denver Garage Door can quickly diagnose and resolve even the most stubborn sensor issues.
North Denver Garage Door offers a wide range of garage door solutions that can elevate your home security. We offer garage door repair, spring replacement, and garage door opener installation.
Serving Aurora, Arvada, and surrounding areas for 15 years, we are committed to excellence and customer satisfaction. For inquiries, call us today at (720) 983-3269 or send us a message.
