Why Won't My Garage Door Close on Sunny Afternoons?
If your door closes fine in the morning but reverses or refuses to close in the late afternoon, sunlight hitting the safety sensor is a likely cause. The sensor gets blinded, thinks something is in the way and stops the door.
Request a technicianHow do the safety sensors work?
Two small sensors sit a few inches above the floor on each side of the door. One sends an invisible beam and the other receives it. If the beam is broken, the opener will not close the door. Each sensor has a small light that shows whether it is lined up.
Why does the sun matter?
On west-facing garages in St. George, the low afternoon sun can shine straight into the receiving sensor. That flood of light can drown out the beam, so the opener behaves as if something is blocking the door.
How can I test it?
Watch the sensor lights when the problem happens. If the receiving light blinks or goes out only when the sun hits it, sunlight is the cause. Shade the sensor with your hand and try again.
How is it fixed?
Many people fit a small sun shield or tube over the receiving sensor. Another fix is swapping the sending and receiving sensors so the receiver faces away from the sun. A technician can do this and re-align both.
What if it still won't close?
Clean the lenses, check the wires for damage and make sure nothing is in the doorway. If the door still reverses, the problem may be the opener's force setting or a binding door. See opener repair.
Is it safe to bypass the sensors?
No. Taping over the sensors or holding the wall button down to force the door closed removes the main protection against a door closing on a child, a pet or a car. The sensors are required on modern openers for good reason. Fix the cause instead: shade the receiver, clean the lenses or have a technician re-align them.
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