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Garage door sensor repair is a service that involves diagnosing, realigning, or replacing the safety photo-eye sensors that prevent your garage door from closing on people, pets, or objects. In Calgary, sensor adjustment costs $120 + GST, and sensor replacement costs $180 + GST. If your garage door won’t close, keeps reversing, or the opener lights flash when you try to close it, the sensors are the most likely cause. Call Calgary Garage Door Fix at (403) 990-9536 for same-day sensor repair.
Garage door sensors (also called photo eyes or safety sensors) are a federal safety requirement on all automatic garage door openers manufactured after 1993. When they malfunction, your door either won’t close at all or reverses immediately after touching the floor—leaving your garage open and unsecured.
| Service | Price (+ GST) | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
|
Sensor Adjustment & Realignment |
$120 |
Cleaning, realignment, wiring check, calibration, full system test |
|
Sensors Replacement |
$180 |
New sensors, installation, wiring, calibration, full system test
|
Both services include a complete safety inspection of your garage door system. In most cases, sensors just need realignment—replacement is only necessary if sensors are physically damaged or have failed internally.
Understanding how sensors work helps you troubleshoot problems:
Garage door safety sensors consist of two units mounted on each side of your garage door, 4–6 inches above the floor:
How they work: When the infrared beam is unbroken (both sensors aligned and clear), the green LED glows steady, and the door operates normally. When something breaks the beam—a person, pet, car, or even a spider web—the door immediately stops or reverses to prevent injury or damage.
The safety purpose: Before 1993, garage doors caused numerous injuries and deaths when they closed on children and pets. Federal law now requires all automatic openers to include photo-eye sensors that stop the door if the beam is broken.
If your garage door won’t close or reverses immediately, here are the most likely causes in order of frequency:
Sensors must point directly at each other to maintain the infrared beam. Even a small bump—from a bike, garbage can, or foot—can knock them out of alignment. Signs: One or both LEDs blinking instead of steady.
Dust, cobwebs, dirt, or moisture on the sensor lenses can block the infrared beam. Calgary’s dusty summers and road salt spray in winter frequently cause this problem.
Direct sunlight can overwhelm the infrared receiver, causing false triggers. This is why your door might work fine in the evening but not during bright afternoons—especially on south-facing garages.
Damaged, loose, or corroded wires between the sensors and opener can cause intermittent failures. Rodents sometimes chew sensor wires in Calgary garages.
Sensors can fail internally due to age, moisture damage, or electrical surges. If cleaning and realignment don’t work, one or both sensors may need replacement.
In rare cases, the problem isn’t the sensors but the opener’s logic board that processes the sensor signal. Our technicians can diagnose this during the service call.
Before scheduling a service call, try these safe DIY troubleshooting steps:
Look for anything blocking the sensor beam path: boxes, tools, garbage cans, brooms, shoes, toys, or even cobwebs. Remove any obstructions and try again.
Wipe both sensor lenses with a soft, dry cloth. Remove any dust, dirt, cobwebs, or moisture. Don’t use harsh chemicals—a dry microfiber cloth works best.
Look at both sensors:
If the green LED is blinking, the sensors aren’t aligned or something is blocking the beam.
If the door works in the evening but not during the day, sunlight may be interfering with the receiver. Try shading the receiving sensor with your hand while pressing the close button. If it works, sunlight is the issue—the sensor may need repositioning or a shade hood.
If the green LED blinks, try gently adjusting the receiving sensor (the one with the green light) until the LED glows steady. The sensors have slight play in their brackets for adjustment.
Visually inspect the wires running from each sensor to the opener. Look for obvious damage, loose connections at the sensor or opener, or wires that have been pulled or pinched.
If these steps don’t solve the problem, or if you’re uncomfortable working around the garage door system, call Calgary Garage Door Fix at (403) 990-9536. We provide same-day sensor diagnosis and repair.
You may have discovered that holding down the wall button (instead of just pressing it) forces the door to close even when the sensors detect a problem. This is an intentional bypass for emergencies only.
Why you shouldn’t rely on the bypass:
If you’re using the button-hold bypass regularly, your sensors need professional attention. Don’t disable your garage door’s safety system.
Calgary’s climate creates unique challenges for garage door sensors:
Calgary averages 333 sunny days per year—one of the sunniest cities in Canada. South and west-facing garages frequently experience afternoon sunlight interference that overwhelms sensor receivers. Solutions include repositioning sensors, adding shade hoods, or installing sensors with better sun filtering.
Calgary’s temperature swings from -30°C to +30°C, stressing sensor electronics and wiring. Cold temperatures can cause condensation inside sensor housings, while heat accelerates component degradation.
Calgary’s dry, dusty summers coat sensor lenses, while winter road salt spray creates a film that blocks infrared beams. Regular lens cleaning (every few months) helps prevent problems.
Morning frost on sensor lenses during Calgary’s cold seasons can temporarily block the beam. The sensors typically work again once the frost melts, but repeated moisture exposure can damage sensors over time.
Here’s what to expect when Calgary Garage Door Fix services your sensors:
1. Diagnosis (5–10 min)
We test the sensors, check LED indicators, verify wiring continuity, and identify the exact cause of the problem.
2. Cleaning & Realignment (10–15 min)
We clean both sensor lenses, check and tighten mounting brackets, and precisely align the sensors for optimal beam contact.
3. Wiring Inspection (5 min)
We inspect all wiring from sensors to opener for damage, corrosion, or loose connections. We repair minor wiring issues as part of the service.
4. Replacement If Needed (15–20 min)
If sensors are damaged or failed, we install new OEM-compatible sensors, run new wiring if necessary, and calibrate the system.
5. Testing & Verification (5 min)
We cycle the door multiple times, verify the safety reverse function, and confirm the sensors respond properly to obstructions.
6. Full Safety Inspection (5 min)
Every service includes inspection of your springs, cables, rollers, and opener—so we can alert you to any other issues.
Total time: 30–45 minutes for most sensor services.
We repair and replace sensors for all major garage door opener brands:
We stock universal sensors compatible with most openers, and can source OEM sensors for specific models.
We provide garage door sensor repair throughout Calgary:
Northwest: Tuscany, Evanston, Arbour Lake, Citadel, Sage Hill, Nolan Hill, Royal Oak, Bowness, Varsity
Northeast: Skyview Ranch, Taradale, Martindale, Saddleridge, Coventry Hills, Cityscape, Redstone
Southwest: Signal Hill, Aspen Woods, Evergreen, Silverado, Shawnessy, Killarney, Altadore
Southeast: Mahogany, McKenzie Towne, Cranston, Auburn Bay, Copperfield, Douglasdale, Lake Bonavista
Surrounding Areas: Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks
Don’t leave your garage open and unsecured because of a sensor problem. Most sensor issues are fixed quickly with a simple adjustment—and we can usually get to you the same day.
Call (403) 990-9536 or book online to schedule your sensor repair.
Adjustment: $120 | Replacement: $180 | Same-Day Service Available
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan Klugman | Founder, Calgary Garage Door Fix
Stan has over 15 years of experience in the garage door industry and has personally overseen more than 32,000 residential and commercial repairs across Calgary. Calgary Garage Door Fix is a BBB-accredited business and holds registered trademarks in both Canada (TMA1352082) and the United States (98141232).