Won't close? It's usually the sensors.
A door that reverses back up or refuses to close is almost always the safety photo-eyes near the floor, misaligned, dirty, or wired loose. Metro realigns, repairs, or replaces them same-day and verifies the safety reverse before leaving. We fix sensors the right way, never bypass them. Family-owned since 1979, quoted in writing.
Metro diagnoses doors that won't close or keep reversing, realigns or replaces the safety photo-eye sensors, repairs sensor wiring, and verifies the safety reverse works, quoted in writing before any work begins. We repair sensors the right way and never bypass federally required safety equipment. Family-owned, never subcontracted, dispatching from two Atlanta-metro locations since 1979.
The photo-eyes are federally required safety equipment, they stop a closing door from crushing a child, pet, or car. We will never disable them to "make it work." We realign, rewire, or replace so the door closes safely and the reverse still functions the way it should.
Sometimes the door won't close because of the sensors; sometimes the sensors are fine and it is the opener logic board or wiring. We read the LED indicators, test the beam, and check the wiring to tell you exactly which it is, so you pay to fix the real problem, not guess.
Most sensor calls are same-day and fixed on the first visit, our trucks carry opener-matched photo-eyes and wire. Before we go, we cycle the door and test the safety reverse. Backed by lifetime workmanship and a 90-day make-it-right guarantee.
Since 1993, every residential garage door opener has two photo-eye sensors near the floor that must "see" each other. Break that beam and the door won't close. Here is how to read the signs, what to try yourself, and what needs a technician.
What the photo-eyes do. One sensor sends an invisible infrared beam across the door opening; the other receives it. If anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, a bag, a bike, a pet, the opener reverses to avoid crushing it. When the sensors are misaligned, dirty, or wired loose, the opener thinks the beam is broken even when the path is clear, so it refuses to close and reverses, often with the opener light blinking.
Read the LEDs first. Each sensor has a small indicator light. Typically the sending eye shows a steady light and the receiving eye shows a steady light only when it sees the beam. A dark or blinking receiver LED means alignment, wiring, or a dead sensor. A quick DIY check: wipe both lenses clean, make sure nothing is in the path, and gently aim the eyes at each other until the receiver light goes solid. If it will not hold, the bracket or wiring needs attention.
Alignment is the most common fix. The two eyes have to point at each other within a small tolerance. A bump from a trash can, a sagging bracket, or a nudged wire is enough to break it. We re-aim the eyes, re-secure the brackets to solid mounting, and confirm a steady beam. Sun glare hitting the receiver at certain hours can also cause intermittent trips, we can reposition or shade the sensor to solve it.
When sensors need replacing. Cracked lenses, water intrusion, corroded terminals, or a sensor that is simply electrically dead will not hold alignment no matter how carefully aimed. We replace the pair with opener-matched photo-eyes, run fresh wire if the old run is damaged or nicked, and verify. Mismatched aftermarket eyes are a common cause of "it worked for a week then failed," so we match to your opener brand.
When it is not the sensors at all. If both LEDs are steady, the lenses are clean, and the door still won't close, the problem is usually upstream, a failing logic board, a bad wall-control wire, or travel-limit settings on the opener. We diagnose the opener on the same visit so you are not paying for sensors when the opener is the real fault. Never tape the sensors together or bypass them to force a close, that defeats the safety system.
If any of these describes your door, it is usually a quick sensor fix. Call (770) 526-1214, most Atlanta-metro sensor calls get same-day service.
The opener sees a broken beam and reverses to be safe. Wipe both lenses and clear the path first; if it still reverses, the eyes are out of alignment or a bracket has sagged. We re-aim, re-secure, and verify the beam holds.
A blinking or dark receiver LED means the beam is not getting through, misalignment, a nicked wire, or a dead sensor. We test the wiring and the eyes and either realign or replace with opener-matched photo-eyes.
Constant-pressure closing is the opener telling you the safety sensors are not happy. It is a workaround, not a fix, and it is unsafe. We find why the beam is breaking and restore normal one-touch closing the safe way.
Sensor problems often sit alongside opener issues. Each is quoted in writing and can be handled on the same visit.
If the sensors check out and the door still won't close, the opener board or wiring is next. Diagnosed same-day.
An aging opener with failing electronics may be worth replacing. Quiet belt-drive and smart myQ options.
A 22-point tune-up tests the safety reverse, sensors, and every wear part before they fail.
Springs, cables, rollers, panels, sensors, openers, every repair we handle, in one place.
Door stuck open and won't close at all? Same-day emergency service across the metro.
GreenSky financing through Synovus Bank on qualifying opener upgrades and installations.
Background reading on sensors and openers from our team's field notes.
Realigned, rewired, or replaced, safety reverse tested on every visit, quoted in writing on-site.
When Metro answers the phone, a Metro tech shows up. Never a subcontractor. Trained in our Douglasville shop on photo-eye alignment, opener diagnostics, and safety-reverse testing. W-2 employees in branded Metro trucks stocked with opener-matched sensors and wire.
Want to meet the full team? See every Metro tech →
Sensor pricing depends on whether the fix is a realignment, a wiring repair, or a sensor replacement. We do not publish a flat rate because the diagnostic might point to the opener instead, but every line is itemized in writing before any work begins.
Alignment, wiring, or opener-matched sensor replacement priced before we start. The number on your estimate is the number on your invoice.
Every Metro technician is a W-2 employee, never a subcontractor. Trained in our Douglasville shop on safety-sensor diagnostics. Branded trucks. The name on the door matches the name on the paycheck.
Lifetime workmanship plus 90-day make-it-right. If a part we installed fails under normal use, we come back. The manufacturer's part warranty passes through to you.
What you see is what you pay, same price across the metro, backed for life.
"Door would start down then pop back up every time. I'd cleaned the little eyes myself with no luck. Metro found a sagging bracket had knocked one out of alignment, re-aimed both, and tested the reverse. Ten-minute fix once they knew what it was. Fair price, no upsell."
"One sensor light kept blinking and the door wouldn't close. Turned out a sensor was water-damaged. Metro replaced the pair with ones matched to my LiftMaster and it's been flawless. Appreciated that they refused to just bypass them like a handyman suggested."
"Thought my opener was dying because the door only closed if I held the button. Metro checked it out, sensors were the issue, not the opener, saved me from buying a new unit I didn't need. Honest shop, same-day service."
Based on 1,200+ reviews across both Metro locations, 4.9★ on Google, A+ on BBB, 4.9★ on HomeAdvisor, 4.9★ on Thumbtack · Read all reviews →
West and South Atlanta calls dispatch from our Douglasville HQ; intown and northeast calls dispatch from our Alpharetta location. Closest crew, closest truck, same standard.
Outside our Phase 1 cities? Call (770) 526-1214, we serve 100+ Atlanta-metro neighborhoods.
Don't see your question? Call us, we love nerding out on doors.
Same-day garage door sensor repair and alignment across the Atlanta metro. We realign, rewire, or replace the safety photo-eyes and verify the reverse, never bypass them. Quoted in writing before any work begins. Lifetime workmanship, 90-day make-it-right.
