Why Does My Garage Door Go Down and Then Back Up?
A door that starts to close and then goes back up is usually being stopped by the safety sensors. Something is in the beam, a lens is dirty, or a sensor has been knocked out of line. Less often, the opener thinks the door has hit something.
Request a technicianWhere are the sensors?
They sit a few inches above the floor on each side of the door. Each has a small light. If one is off or blinking, the sensors are not lined up.
What should I check first?
Look for anything in the doorway: a broom, a bin, leaves or snow. Wipe both lenses with a soft cloth. Check that neither sensor has been bumped.
How do I re-align them?
Loosen the sensor's wing nut, move it gently until its light goes solid, then tighten it again. Check the wiring for damage.
What if the sensors look fine?
The door may be hitting an obstruction at the floor, such as ice or a raised threshold, or binding in the track. The opener reads that as an obstacle and reverses.
Is it safe to bypass the sensors?
No. Never tape over or bypass the sensors. They stop the door closing on a person, pet or car.
When should I get help?
If the door still reverses, the opener's force or travel limits may need adjusting, or the door may be binding. See opener repair.
What does the force setting do?
The opener measures how hard it has to push. If the door meets more resistance than expected, the opener reverses. That is a safety feature, but if the force is set too sensitively, a stiff door on a cold morning can trigger it. A technician sets the force so the door closes reliably while still reversing on an obstacle.
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