Signs Your Sensors Need Attention
These are the most common symptoms of a sensor problem. If you recognize any of them, call us — most are quick fixes.
Door won't close with the remote or wall button
Opener light blinks 4, 5, or 10 times when trying to close
Door reverses immediately after starting to close
One or both sensor lights are off or blinking
Door closes only when you hold down the wall button
Door works fine when you override the sensors manually
Sensors look sun-faded, cracked, or physically damaged
Wires appear chewed, frayed, or disconnected
What are garage door safety sensors?
Garage door safety sensors — also called photo-eye sensors — are two small devices mounted about 4 to 6 inches off the ground on either side of your garage door opening. They send an invisible infrared beam between them.
When something breaks that beam while the door is closing, the opener automatically reverses the door to prevent it from closing on a person, child, pet, or vehicle.
Federal law (UL 325) has required safety sensors on all residential garage doors since 1993. If yours are not working, your door is a safety hazard and should be repaired promptly.
Sending Sensor
Emits the invisible infrared beam. Usually has a solid amber or yellow indicator light when working properly.
Receiving Sensor
Detects the beam from the sending sensor. Usually has a solid green indicator light when the beam is aligned.
Blinking Light
A blinking sensor light means the beam is broken or misaligned — the door will refuse to close as a safety measure.
What We Repair & Replace
From simple alignment to full sensor replacement and wiring repair — we handle all sensor problems on every major brand.
Sensor Alignment
Even a small bump can knock sensors out of alignment. We realign both sensors so the invisible beam connects perfectly, restoring normal door operation.
Sensor Replacement
Damaged, sun-bleached, or worn-out sensors replaced with compatible units. We stock sensors for all major opener brands including LiftMaster, Chamberlain, and Genie.
Wiring Repair
Frayed, cut, or corroded sensor wires cause intermittent failures. We repair or replace wiring from the sensors back to the opener for a reliable connection.
Safety Testing
After every repair we perform a full safety test — placing an object in the door's path to verify the auto-reverse works exactly as required by federal law.
Lens Cleaning
Dirty or spider-web-covered sensor lenses are a common cause of false trips. We clean both lenses thoroughly and check signal strength.
Opener Compatibility Check
Sometimes the opener logic board — not the sensors — is the real problem. We diagnose the full system to make sure the right component is repaired.
How We Fix It
Diagnose the Cause
We identify whether the issue is alignment, dirty lenses, damaged wiring, faulty sensors, or an opener logic board problem — so we fix the right thing.
Repair or Replace
Misaligned sensors are realigned and secured. Damaged sensors or wiring are replaced with compatible parts we carry on our service trucks.
Test & Verify
We test the auto-reverse function with a physical obstacle, confirm both indicator lights are solid, and cycle the door multiple times before leaving.
Same-Day Service
Most sensor repairs are completed the same day you call — often in under an hour.
Safety Guaranteed
We test the auto-reverse function after every repair to confirm your door is safe for your family.
All Major Brands
LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Craftsman, Linear — we stock sensors compatible with all major openers.
Common Questions
Why won't my garage door close even though nothing is in the way?
The most common cause is misaligned safety sensors. The two small sensors mounted near the bottom of your door tracks send an invisible beam to each other. If they are even slightly out of alignment — from a bump, pet, or vibration — the door will refuse to close as a safety measure. We can realign them in minutes.
What does it mean when the opener light blinks?
The number of blinks is a diagnostic code. For LiftMaster and Chamberlain openers, 4 blinks typically indicate a sensor obstruction, 5 blinks indicate a wiring issue, and 6 blinks point to a short circuit. Our technicians know these codes for all major brands and can quickly identify the problem.
Can I bypass the safety sensors to close my door?
You can temporarily hold down the wall button continuously to close the door while the sensors are not working, but we strongly advise against bypassing sensors permanently. They are required by federal law (UL 325) on all residential garage doors manufactured after 1993 and exist to prevent the door from closing on children, pets, or vehicles.
How long does a sensor repair take?
Most sensor repairs — alignment, lens cleaning, wiring fixes — take 30 to 60 minutes. If we need to replace the sensors themselves, we typically have compatible units on our truck for a same-visit repair.
Are your replacement sensors compatible with my opener?
Yes. We stock sensors compatible with LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Craftsman, and most other major brands. We verify compatibility before installation.