Garage door safety sensors are a pair of photo-eye units mounted on each side of the door opening, usually about six inches above the floor, that send an infrared beam across the doorway. If anything breaks the beam while the door closes, the opener reverses. Under UL 325 and federal rules, residential openers made after 1992 must include entrapment protection.
Why it matters to you
The sensors keep a closing door from striking a child, pet, or car, so a door that will not close, reverses for no reason, or closes only while the wall button is held usually has a sensor problem, not a broken opener. At MyHappyHome™, garage door opener coverage is not part of a base plan; it is available through the optional garage door opener add-on, priced at checkout.
Practical guidance
Check that both sensor lights are on, wipe the lenses, and realign any bracket that has been bumped. Test monthly by placing a roll of paper towels in the door's path, never disconnect or bypass the sensors, and keep hands and feet clear of a moving door.