Garage door sensors are a safety feature that comes with automatic garage doors. These safety sensors keep the door from closing on a person, object, car, or pet in its path. At Jolly Goat Garage Doors, we know it’s essential that your sensors function properly to prevent collisions and accidents. At the same time, we’re also aware that there are times when disabling garage door sensors is acceptable or even required in certain situations.
We’ve put together several methods you can follow to safely and temporarily disable garage door sensors. Whether you’re troubleshooting or performing maintenance, these tips should guide you through the process. Remember—your safety always comes first, and don’t hesitate to seek professional help from garage door experts (like us!) if needed.
Related Article: How to Reprogram LiftMaster Garage Door Opener Units
The Mechanics Behind a LiftMaster Garage Door Sensor
How do garage door sensors work? The LiftMaster garage door sensor uses two sensors (a transmitter and receiver) which are located near the ground, at the bottom edge of each side of the door. An infrared beam produced by the transmitter cuts across the door opening toward the receiver. When the receiver detects the beam, it believes there are no objects or people in the way, so it allows the door to operate normally. However, if something starts blocking the infrared beam, the sensors stop the garage door opener from operating or reverse the door’s movement. This is to keep it from colliding with the perceived obstruction.
When to Bypass Garage Door Sensors
We know that garage door sensors are extremely important to lower the risk of the door closing on someone or something and causing injuries or damage that will likely require garage door repair services. So, when and why is it alright to bypass the garage door sensors?
Here are some of the scenarios when it’s acceptable to temporarily disable garage door sensors:
False Detection of Obstruction
Sometimes, a garage door sensor can mistakenly detect and claim obstruction when there isn’t actually one. When this happens, the sensors send a signal to the LiftMaster garage door opener unit, making it impossible to fully close the door. This can be caused by various issues like misalignment, loose wires, as well as dirt and debris. While you fix the issue, you can bypass garage door sensors for a more efficient process.
Regular Maintenance or Garage Door Repair
During repairs or regular maintenance, you may need to bypass the garage door sensors so you can inspect the door and fix issues without the garage door sensors interrupting. Bypassing the sensors can also be useful if you’re dealing with a sensor problem and you’re trying to clean (use a microfiber cloth!) or replace the sensors.
Troubleshooting and Testing
If your garage door isn’t working properly, you’ll have to inspect various parts of the door to determine what’s broken and what needs to be fixed. There are also times when it’s necessary to test the garage doors to make sure they open and close properly. During this process, you can temporarily bypass the sensors. However, after troubleshooting, remember to ensure the sensors are working properly once more.
How to Bypass or Disable Garage Door Sensors
There are six ways to disable garage door sensors:
1. Cover the Sensors
To bypass garage door sensors, you can block each garage door sensor with electrical tape, cardboard, a thick piece of cloth or plastic, or anything that’s opaque and not transparent. These materials block the beam from reaching the receiver sensor, which in turn makes the garage door stop moving and renders the sensors temporarily inactive.
2. Disconnect From the Power Source
The sensors are connected to a power supply that keeps them running. When you unplug or disconnect the wiring from the LiftMaster garage door opener, the sensors stop working and the door can be moved without interruption from the sensors. Afterward, don’t forget to reconnect the wire and get the sensors running again!
3. Place a Reflective Surface In Front of the Sensor
Find something reflective, like a mirror or aluminum foil, that can bounce back a light beam. Place the reflective material in front of the transmitter sensor. Then, find an angle that allows the beam to bounce off the reflective surface and back to the receiver.
When you do this, you’re basically tricking the sensors into thinking that they’re communicating normally. The receiver thinks it’s picking up the beam directly from the transmitter, even allowing the garage door opener to operate as if the path is clear.
4. Change the Sensor Alignment
Another way to temporarily bypass garage door sensors is to interrupt the sensor alignment. Basically, the sensors need to be properly aligned for them to send signals to the garage door opener. Now, the goal is to misalign the sensors so that the receiver doesn’t pick up the beam. When this happens, you’re essentially hitting a pause button on the whole thing, meaning you can operate the door as you wish without the sensors instructing the opener unit to stop or reverse the door’s movement.
So, find the sensors (they typically have LED lights on them) and move them around so they point in different directions (e.g. one toward the ceiling, another toward the floor or wall).
5. Shift to Manual Operation
You can temporarily disable the sensor when you switch to manual operation. To do this, pull on the manual release cord, which disengages the automatic features controlled by the sensors. Once you’re in manual mode, you’ll have to manually open and close the door, but you can also work the sensors temporarily disabled.
6. Press and Hold the Garage Door Button
By pressing and holding the garage door wall button, you’re commanding the opener to close the garage door. When you do this, the opener prioritizes the task of closing the garage door over the signals sent by the sensors, so even if the sensors think they’re detecting obstructions, the door will continue to close. Take note that when you release the wall button, the sensors will start working as usual again.
Keep These Tips in Mind!
- The safety sensors are there for a reason, so remember that disabling or bypassing the sensors should only be temporary.
- Once you’re finished with your repair, inspection, or troubleshooting, don’t forget to re-enable the sensors again for your safety. Depending on the method you took to temporarily disable the sensors, make sure you undo it (e.g. remove the tape, reconnect the wiring, or fix the sensor alignment). You’ll know the sensors are functioning again once the light goes on for each sensor.
- Browse through your LiftMaster garage door manual for additional information and instructions, if necessary.
- During the process of disabling the door sensors, make sure the area is clear of people (especially children), pets, and objects to prevent potential accidents.
- Perform regular maintenance or have a professional do it for you to ensure the health and functionality of your garage door system, including your sensors.
- If you’re unsure about the process, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. They’ll arrive at your house promptly and get the job done for you!
Call Jolly Goat Garage Doors for Hassle-Free Garage Door Services!
Do you need to temporarily bypass your garage door sensor? Maybe you’re dealing with other garage door issues, like a stubborn opener motor that just won’t work or sticky doors that won’t glide smoothly along the track. No matter the issue, our team at Jolly Goat Garage Doors is more than happy to help!
Feel free to contact us today for professional help or visit our Garage Door Opener Information Center for more.
