Like every other door in your house, the garage door needs to be maintained in order to ensure safety and comfort as well. Laziness in fixing misaligned garage door sensors and tracks can cause the door to break, hence resulting to irritation and worse, risk. If you happen to be in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and the other areas, which include, Olympus Garage Doors has a straightforward guide on how to fix your garage door sensors and tracks back to shape.
The Significance of Garage Door Sensors Loosely Outline
These sensors are very important with regard to the safety of the machine since it makes it possible for it to block in closing whenever it would have run into an object (particularly a person). Found on either side of the bottom space of the frame around the door, these sensor use infrared light to assist in cross beam detection. If the beam is broken, the door will either not close or open. This wear and tear may cause the sensors to become out of alignment, which may cause the door to not fully or even attempt to open. If you wish to confirm the alignment, it is advisable to check whether the sensors are facing one another. This means that the lights on the sensors are not behaving normally. There are circumstances when the sensors may be blocked by dirt. A soft cloth is enough to wipe off any films that cover the lenses.
Steps for Realigning Garage Door Sensor / Sensor Replacement – Expose or Replace Sensor
If cleaning doesn’t solve the problem then you can follow these steps to realign the sensors. First, in order to prevent any more emergency accidents, turn off the garage door opener by unplugging it so that you do not accidentally operate it while fiddling with the sensors. Secondly, you’ll want to look over sensor brackets in order to determine whether the sensors have been installed firmly or not, as the brackets usually tend to get loose with time. This may lead to the brackets getting out of alignment. In such situations where they are loose, retune the screws in order to keep them tight or any other fasteners that are appropriate. After that, level the sensors horizontally and make sure they face each other. You might have to slightly twist the brackets in order to get the proper angle. Make fine adjustments and perform constant checks. After adjusting the sensors plug the garage door opener and check the system. Place an object in the path of the sensors and try to close the garage door. The garage door must reverse if the sensors are sent back, and vice versa.
Realigning Garage Door Tracks for Smooth Operation
Apart from the sensor, bad operation of the garage door is likely to be caused by a fixed garage door track that slides open or closes. You should seek for help if your door tends to stick, wobble or emit strange noises. In this case, realignment of tracks is necessary. To realign your garage door tracks, power off the garage door opener making sure that the power supply has been completely turned off to avoid any accidental occurrences during the course of the procedure. Next, look at the tracks for any bends or obstructions. If necessary, wipe the tracks with a clean cloth in case it has a buildup of grime like dust. Using a wrench, gently turn the screws that secure the track brackets. Avoid their full removal; just do it partially ensuring their legs still sit on the bracket for ease of movement. Carefully re-positioned the displaced tracks into their appropriate locations. Make sure that they are level and straight when performing vertical alignment. After adjustment, the screws on the brackets should be secured properly.
It is important to carry out regular maintenance in order to avoid the realignment problems in the future. Depending on the usage of the door, carryout the sensor and track inspection for obstacles and the proper positioning of the tracks. Clean and grease all moving parts of the garage door system as the rollers and the door hinges for proper operation of the door. If the problem continues unabated or if in doubt as to how to go about it, one should seek the help of an expert. Should you for instance be located in Gilbert, Chandler, or Glendale and facing challenges with your garage door, Olympus Garage Doors will come to your rescue. We provide these services on an expert level and guarantee a safe and reliable functioning of your garage door. Do not hesitate to ask for professional help!
