Garage door safety has become more crucial since the early 1990s. Garage doors are required by federal law to have sensors that prevent any obstacles from being thrashed by them. So a growing number of people have been adopting electric garages, and garage door sensors are becoming rather commonplace.
Despite their widespread popularity, many people are still unaware of what they really do. Simply put, the sensors make sure the garage door closes easily and smoothly. The sensors will identify any obstructions in the way and stop the garage doors from moving further.
These sensors are positioned on either side of the majority of garage doors, close to the bottom. They create a simulated wall that can detect any person or object going through it by emitting an invisible infrared beam.
The garage door is prompted to halt and reverse if the laser beam is interrupted. Therefore, installing new garage door sensors or replacing the old damaged ones is a crucial technique for accident prevention in your garage. Thanks to these sensors, children, animals, and other things can be kept from getting tangled under the door.
What you should know before installing the new sensors or replacing existing ones
Sensors for garage doors are intricate and often quite expensive gadgets. So they must be carefully maintained. But how can you tell if your garage sensor needs to be replaced?
If your garage door doesn't close, regardless of how hard you press the buttons on the remote control or the door itself, this may be a sign that your garage door sensors are damaged or aren't working properly. Even if the garage door starts to close, it will stop in the middle and return to the open position or become stuck halfway through opening or closing.
The requirement for a new sensor might not always be the case. Sometimes, all they need is a good cleaning because they gather dirt over time. Simply use a soft cloth to wipe the garage door sensors routinely.
In the scenario where garage door safety sensors are completely damaged, sensor replacement must be your top concern. More issues or serious injuries can arise if you ignore the repair or put it off until later.
How to install garage door sensors: A step-by-step process
Garage door sensors are simple to install, especially with the proper direction and guidance. When installing them with a garage door opener, it's important to pay attention to the wiring and make changes to the sensors. Let's have a look at the installation process for garage door sensors step by step.
Ensure that you have the essential equipment:
As a first step, you need to ensure you have all of the necessary tools on hand. Purchasing new garage sensors is part of this. In order to avoid any accidents, you should also double-check the condition of the garage doorway you are operating in. Also, make sure your kids and pets don't enter the area if you have either.
Install sensors for the garage door opener.
Push the garage door safety sensor against the provided bracket with the connected carriage screws, then manually fasten the two pieces using a wing nut. Connect the next sensor using the same procedure.
Attach the bracket's clasp to the track of the garage door close to the ground. Position the bracket about 6 inches off the ground by sliding it along the track. The sensor needs to be oriented opposite the garage door opening.
Repeat Step 2 for the 2nd bracket and sensor set.
Find the colored wires’ ends that extend from the sensors. One solid white wire, one black, and one black and white wire should be present on each sensor. Separate the wires from one another by pulling them apart. Use a wire stripper to remove 7/16 inches of insulation tape from each wire's tip.
Place the wiring of the sensor up against the wall of the garage. Fasten and secure it to the wall using a staple gun and insulated staples. Use the staples sparingly around the wires to avoid piercing them. Do the same with the second sensor.
Connect the wiring for the sensors to the aerial opener motor by running it up the garage wall and ceiling. Fasten the wire against the wall using the staple gun and insulated staples. Mark the staples at 12-inch intervals.
A ladder is needed to reach the above motor. To increase safety, ask a companion to hold the ladder. The two solid white wires from the sensors are supposed to be twisted together by hand. Then find the overhead motor's white terminal. The connection can be opened by pushing the tab on the terminal with a flathead screwdriver.
Release the tab after inserting the white wires into the terminal. Repeat the same with black, and black and white wires, then step down from the ladder.
Examine the two sensors. Their lights ought to be flashing to show that they are out of alignment.
Now loosen the wing nut on one of the sensors with your hand. Start adjusting the sensors on the track to make the lights on both sensors stop blinking and become solid. You will have to keep adjusting the sensors until they are aligned. Once they are lined up, tighten the wire nuts manually.
Turn on the power and the garage door openers so you can see how it works. With the safety sensors in place and aligned, the door should open and close smoothly.
Review the installation.
It's time to test the sensors once you have installed them in your garage. Put something, perhaps a container or a box, between the sensors in the door's path of the line. This will restrict the sensors' beam emitted, and the door will stop moving even if you try to shut it. If it doesn't stop, the logic board for the sensors needs to be changed. After making the modifications, run the test once more.
If it still isn't working, your best course of action would be to contact someone with the appropriate knowledge to provide a hand with the malfunctioning garage door sensor.
Cost of Replacing Garage Door Sensors
Garage door sensors are extremely sophisticated and can cost a lot of money. This explains why some individuals choose to ignore replacing them. But they jeopardize their house's security by doing so.
The cost of replacing garage door sensors will fall between $80-$110 in addition to installation. It is recommended to have garage door sensors installed by a professional. A garage door sensor installation normally costs roughly $160-$180.
It's crucial to keep your sensors maintained after installation. If they are in an area with a lot of dirt, be careful to clean them. This will ensure your sensors are operating at peak efficiency.
Finishing up!
Numerous issues can arise for you as a result of a damaged garage door system. It should frequently be treated as an emergency and remedied right away.
We have highlighted a few easy steps and tips to assist you in getting your garage door operating properly. Each step has been succinctly explained to minimize the likelihood of errors occurring during the replacement.