If you have an overhead door in your home or business chances are it is an automatic door. If it’s an automatic door then chances are even higher you have photo eyes installed at the base of the door. 

What’s a photo-eye?

 The photo eye is short for Photoelectric sensors. These devices are installed at the base of a garage door and transmit an invisible beam of light from one side of your garage door to the other. 

When the beam of light is interrupted your garage door opening system knows something may be in the way and the safety system will kick in. When the photo eye beans are disrupted your garage door will not close. 

You may have seen photos eye sensors in action when you have tried to sneak under a closing garage door. 

These sensors are very important to your garage door safety. But if something malfunctions with your photo eye sensors it could impact your ability to effectively close your garage door. 

Problems with your photo eye sensors should be addressed immediately. 

Common Photo Eyes Problems

In situations where your garage door won’t close despite the fact that there’s nothing under it, the first thing you should check is the photo eyes. Because they hang out from your garage door on fairly thin strips of metal, it isn’t too difficult for these sensors to be knocked out of alignment.

Check and see if they’re facing each other. If one is a little bent, you should be able to put it back in place with your hands. It’s also possible that the sensors are dirty. Try cleaning them off with a damp cloth.

When inspecting them, you should also be able to see a little light projecting from one side. If this light is off, it may be disconnected or broken.

If that’s the case, or you simply can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong, it’s best to contact a professional. There could always be something wrong with your actual opener. Should you find you’re in need of a new garage door opener, we have you covered.

In addition to a high-quality selection of garage doors, we also have the latest in garage door opener technology. For all of your overhead door needs in Ohio, contact Springfield Overhead Door today!