My Garage Door Opener Reverses Before Door Closes. Why?

by Tony Hall - More by Tony Hall

Is your garage opener reversing your door for no obvious reason? You likely noticed it after pulling out of or into the garage and hitting the clicker. The door starts going down, but before it closes completely, it reverses itself. You try hitting the clicker again and it does the same thing. 

When you go into the garage after that, you may hear a clicking sound or see flashing lights on the opener. What is going on?

What can you do to troubleshoot the problem?

The first thing to do is to consult your garage door opener manual. The manufacturer will likely have a section that outlines common troubleshooting steps. There should be one that offers troubleshooting tips for when the opener reverses itself. A few common problems include the following:

• There may be something blocking the door sensors.
  
• The door sensors may be out of alignment.
• The limiting switch may need adjusting.
  

How do you know if something is blocking the door sensors?

Sometimes the blockage is quite obvious. Something fell off a shelf. A toy is standing in front of the sensor. Your vehicle is blocking the sensor. Remove the blockage and try to close the door again. If there is no obvious blockage, look for something not so obvious. If a spider has woven a web across the lens of the sensor it will block the signal. Even a small piece of debris can cause problems. Clear the problem and try it again.

How do you know if the door sensors are out of alignment?

Check the sensors on both sides of the door. Make sure they are level with the floor and pointed towards each other. If they are not, gently move them back into place and try the door again.

How do you know if the limiting switch needs adjustment?

If the sensors seem okay, look at the limiting switch next. This switch controls how far down your garage door goes down. If it is set wrong, it may send the door down too far or not far enough. Check this setting, make an adjustment and try the garage door again.

What do you do when none of your troubleshooting solves the problem?

Once you have gone through the troubleshooting steps, if your opener is still not working, you need to get professional help. Whether your garage door opener is reversing or the light is flashing,  Willow Creek Overhead Door in Amarillo, Texas can help solve the problem. We are the Texas Panhandle area experts in residential and commercial garage door service. We repair, install and replace doors, operators and openers. In business for more than 10 years, we are the top Amarillo garage door company. Contact us today for a free estimate.

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