If your garage door only closes when you press and hold the wall button until it’s fully closed, you’re not alone. The use of this one button can temporarily help get your door closed, but understanding the underlying issues is crucial for both convenience and safety. A malfunctioning garage door can lead to potential accidents and compromise the security of your home.
Understanding the Problem
When you press and hold the wall button, you override the garage door opener’s safety feature. If you release the button before the door is fully closed, it reverses and reopens. Similarly, if you try to close the door using the remote, it begins to close but then reverses course and opens again. This behavior indicates a malfunction with the photo sensors, designed to prevent the door from closing if an object or person is in its path.
The Role of Photo Sensors
Photo sensors, also known as safety sensors, are mounted on either side of the garage door near the floor. These sensors send an infrared beam across the door opening. If this beam is interrupted, the door will stop closing and reverse to the open position. This safety feature is not just a convenience; it’s a legal requirement under the UL Nationwide 325 law, which mandates that all garage door openers manufactured after 1993 include these sensors.
Common Issues with Photo Sensors
Misalignment: The sensors need to be perfectly aligned to function correctly. If they are out of alignment, the infrared beam will not connect, causing the door to reverse.
Obstructions: Objects blocking the sensors’ path, such as tools or debris, will prevent the door from closing.
Dirt and Debris: Dirty sensor lenses can obstruct the beam, leading to malfunction.
Wiring Problems: Loose or damaged wires can disrupt the connection between the sensors and the garage door opener.
Faulty Sensors: Over time, sensors can wear out and need replacement.
Importance of Fixing Photo Sensors
It’s crucial to address any issues with your photo sensors promptly. Not only is it inconvenient to hold down the wall button every time you want to close your garage door, but it’s also unsafe. Bypassing the sensors compromises the safety features designed to protect people and pets from being injured by a closing garage door. This can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities in extreme cases.
View More on Garage Door Safey Sensors
How to Fix the Issue
Clean the Sensors: Wipe the sensor lenses with a clean, dry cloth to remove dirt or debris.
Check for Obstructions: Ensure that nothing is blocking the path between the sensors.
Realign the Sensors: Adjust the sensors until the indicator lights on both sensors are solid and not blinking.
Inspect the Wiring: Check for loose or damaged wires at the sensors and the motor head. Reconnect or replace wires as necessary.
Replace Faulty Sensors: If cleaning and realignment don’t work, you may need to replace the sensors.
How to Bypass Garage Door Sensors
To bypass your garage door sensors, you can only do this from the wall button. This is not a permanent solution, but it works with any garage door opener, regardless of the brand. Holding the wall button down until the door fully closes overrides the sensors. If you release the button before the door reaches the ground, the sensors will reactivate, and the door will reverse. This temporary fix allows you to close and lock your garage door without leaving it open all day or night.
Bypassing Garage Door Sensors Is Not a Permanent Repair!
Bypassing the sensors will close the door, and you can still open it with your remote. However, this does not address the root cause of the problem. The sensors may be tripped due to obstructions, misalignment, wiring issues, or faulty sensors. It’s crucial to troubleshoot and fix these issues to ensure your garage door operates safely and efficiently. Start with the easiest solutions and move to the more complex ones.
UL 325 Compliance
The UL 325 Safety Standards ensure garage door openers have safety features to prevent accidents. Ignoring malfunctioning photo sensors violates this safety standard and risks your household.
For more information on UL 325 you may read here.
Information from the Federal Register by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on 03/14/2024 – can be found here.
Is UL 325 Working? – Great article here.
UL 325, initially introduced in 1973, has undergone multiple revisions. Since May 2018, 43 states, including California and Nevada, have adopted versions of the International Building Code (IBC) that reference compliance with UL 325 and ASTM F2200. These standards are enforceable by law in the states that have adopted the IBC, making UL 325 a crucial standard for ensuring safety in automated gate and door systems across much of the United States.
Our Overhead Door™ Brand Products are Built To UL 325 Standards
When it comes to the safety of your home or business, only the best will do. That’s why the Overhead Door™ Brand rigorously test all of its products to meet the UL 325 standard, the industry’s highest safety requirement. Here at Overhead Door Company of Huntsville/North Alabama™ our trained technicians ensure you have the right equipment, installed properly, to always keep people and property protected.
Built To UL 325 Standards
All of our garage door openers, commercial door operators, and gate operators comply with the industry’s highest safety requirements, including the UL 325 standard.
Equipped With Safety Devices
Our safety accessories are designed and tested to work seamlessly with our openers and operators, providing the highest level of safety.
Backed by Professional Installation
Overhead Door™ Brand dealers are trained to design and properly install our products, ensuring your system works exactly as it should, every day.
Other Reasons Garage Door Won’t Close
If your garage door is giving you trouble and won’t close properly, photo sensors might not be the only culprit. Other issues, such as misaligned tracks, worn-out rollers, or even a malfunctioning remote, can also cause problems.
For more on why your garage door won’t close continuing reading here:
Can I use the emergency release cord to close my garage door from an up position?
To disengage the garage door opener, the door must be in the down position. Why? If the door is stuck in the up position, disengaging the opener releases the trolley — a piece of the opener that moves with the door when it goes up and down — and it could come crashing down. At the very least, this could damage the door.
How to Open a Garage Door Manually
Professional Help
If you’ve tried the above steps and your garage door still won’t close properly, don’t worry. It might be time to call in a professional. A trained technician can accurately diagnose and fix the issue, providing you with the peace of mind that your garage door operates safely and efficiently.
In summary, addressing problems with your garage door’s photo sensors is essential for safety and convenience. Following these troubleshooting steps, you can restore your garage door to its proper functioning, ensuring it closes fully with a single button press. If in doubt, always seek professional assistance to maintain compliance with safety regulations and protect your household.
By prioritizing the maintenance of your garage door’s safety sensors, you ensure the longevity of your garage door system and the safety of everyone in your home.
If you need to close your garage door and the wall button isn’t working, please refer to the instructions below on how to use the red emergency release.
How to Close a Garage Door Ma
Garage Door Experts Committed to Your Safety
At Overhead Door Company of Huntsville/North Alabama™, your convenience and well-being are our top priorities. We are dedicated to providing top-notch service and educating our community about garage door safety. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Working with garage door systems can be dangerous. Our trained professionals are here to handle all repairs and maintenance, ensuring your safety and that of your family.
Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not meant to be comprehensive and is for informational purposes only. You should not undertake to perform anything described herein without adequate training and/or supervision. Overhead Door Company of Huntsville/North Alabama™ disclaims any responsibility for any injury, damage, or loss as a result of reliance upon the information found on this site/blog.
WARNING: TORSION SPRINGS, EXTENSION SPRINGS, AND OTHER GARAGE DOOR COMPONENTS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF NOT HANDLED PROPERLY. PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION AND REPAIR ARE RECOMMENDED.
Visit our Troubleshooting Guide
Making Garage Door Repairs Simple For You