Why is my garage door reversing for no reason?

The most common cause is misaligned or blocked safety sensors. Dirt, spider webs, or slight physical shifts in the sensor mount can trigger the auto-reverse. We can realign and clean sensors in minutes.

Are working sensors required by law?

Yes. Federal law (UL 325) requires all garage door openers manufactured after January 1993 to include auto-reverse safety sensors. They must be maintained in working order.

Garage Door Safety Sensor Repair & Alignment

Sensors blinking? Door reverses for no reason? We fix garage door sensors fast.

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Modern garage doors use infrared safety sensors to prevent the door from closing on people, pets, or objects. Misaligned, dirty, or faulty sensors cause unpredictable door behavior — including doors that reverse mid-close or won't close at all.

Signs Your Safety Sensors Need Attention

One sensor LED is off or blinking (should be solid on both)
Door starts to close, then reverses back up
Door won't close and beeps or flashes the opener light 10 times
A cobweb, leaf, or dust has drifted in front of a sensor
A ball, bike, or box is bumped into a sensor and knocked it out of alignment
Sensors are corroded or waterlogged from Colorado snowmelt
Wires from the sensor to the opener look chewed (mice) or frayed

Why This Isn't Optional

Federal law (UL 325) has required auto-reverse safety sensors on all garage door openers manufactured after January 1993. The sensors exist because garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds and have historically caused deaths and serious injuries to children and pets when closing on them. Working sensors are the primary safeguard.

Disabling or bypassing sensors is a homeowner liability issue. If a door closes on someone because you propped the sensors up wrong, insurance and legal exposure follow. The vast majority of "faulty sensor" calls we get are actually just alignment or dirt — a 15-minute fix that restores full safety operation.

What Affects Sensor Repair Cost

Sensor work is usually one of our fastest and least expensive services. Cost depends on:

Alignment vs. replacement: A realignment is a quick service call. Replacement of bad sensors costs more but is still under most repair rates.
Wiring damage: Chewed or corroded wires need to be repaired or rerun. This is usually the biggest cost variable.
Opener compatibility: For older openers, we sometimes need OEM sensors versus universal ones. Both work; OEM costs more.
Bundled with other work: If we're already on-site for another repair, we can often re-align sensors as an add-on for minimal extra cost.

Garage Door Sensor Repair FAQ

Opener Repair

From remotes that stopped working to openers that grind, strain, or reverse unexpectedly — Metro Denver Garage Door services all major opener brands.

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Repair

Whether your garage door is stuck, making grinding noises, or won't close all the way, Metro Denver Garage Door has been fixing garage doors across Littleton, Highlands Ranch, and Metro Denver since 1984.

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