If your garage door opener will not close the door and the lights on the sensors keep blinking, you are not alone. Many homeowners in Indianapolis, IN, ask the same question: Can you bypass garage door opener safety sensors just to get the door working again?
The short answer is no, at least not safely or legally.
As professionals who have worked on hundreds of garage doors and garage door opener systems throughout Indianapolis neighborhoods, we can say this with confidence: most sensor problems are repairable. Bypassing them often creates bigger safety and mechanical risks than the original issue.
In this guide, we will explain how garage door opener safety sensors work, why they fail, and what you should check before scheduling service.
What Do Garage Door Opener Safety Sensors Actually Do?
Garage door safety sensors, also called photo eye sensors, are small devices installed near the bottom of the garage door tracks. They create an invisible beam across the doorway.
If anything breaks that beam, a child, pet, bicycle tire, or storage bin, the system signals the opener motor to stop and reverse.
This system is part of the garage door opener reversal system and has been required under federal safety standards (UL 325) since the early 1990s.
In simple terms, the sensors prevent the door from closing on someone or something.
Without working sensors:
- The door can continue closing even if something is underneath.
- The opener motor may not detect resistance quickly enough.
- Serious injury or property damage can occur.
These sensors are small components, but they are one of the most important safety features of your entire garage door system.
If you are unsure whether your sensors are functioning properly, we recommend reading our guide “How to Test Garage Door Opener Safety Sensors (Simple At-Home Check)” for a quick and safe way to evaluate them at home.
Can You Legally Bypass Garage Door Safety Sensors?
Some homeowners attempt to trick the system by rewiring or taping the sensors together. However, that does not make it safe or compliant.
Modern garage door openers are engineered so the door will not close automatically unless the sensors are functioning properly. Manufacturers design them this way for safety compliance.
Bypassing the sensors can:
- Violate federal safety standards
- Void the manufacturer’s warranty
- Create liability if someone is injured
- Lead to potential insurance complications
In Indiana, homeowners are responsible for maintaining safe property conditions. If a bypassed system causes injury, the homeowner may be held legally responsible.
The better solution is always diagnosing and repairing the root issue.
If you are dealing with malfunctioning sensors, we recommend reading our related guide “Why Are My Garage Door Opener Safety Sensors Not Working?” to better understand the most common causes and what to check first.
Why Do Homeowners in Indianapolis Try to Bypass Them?
Most homeowners are not trying to ignore safety rules; they are frustrated. We commonly see these situations during service calls across Indianapolis:
The Garage Door Won’t Close
The door begins closing, then immediately reverses. This is often a sensor alignment issue.
Blinking Sensor Lights
One sensor light may blink or shut off completely. This usually signals misalignment or wiring problems.
Cold Weather Conditions
Indianapolis winters bring freezing temperatures that cause condensation, frost buildup, and slight bracket shifts.
Salt Corrosion
Road salt tracked into garages can corrode low-voltage sensor wiring over time.
Sun Glare
Strong afternoon sunlight hitting one photo eye can interrupt the signal.
Rodent Damage
During colder months, we occasionally find chewed wiring near the base of garage walls.
In most cases, these problems can be corrected without replacing the entire opener system.
To better understand the system behind these issues, we also recommend reading our guide “How Do Garage Door Opener Safety Sensors Work?” for a clear breakdown of how the technology operates.
7 Serious Risks of Bypassing Garage Door Safety Sensors
1. Increased Injury Risk
Garage doors can weigh anywhere from 130 to over 400 pounds, depending on size and material. Without working safety sensors, the door may continue closing even if something is underneath. The auto-reverse system is designed to prevent exactly this scenario.
2. Risk to Children and Pets
Children often leave toys near the garage threshold. Pets can move quickly under a closing door. Without active sensors, the system may not stop in time to prevent injury.
3. Damage to Vehicles
If a vehicle bumper, bike rack, or trunk edge sits slightly under the door, a bypassed system may close directly onto it. Vehicle body repairs typically cost far more than correcting a sensor issue.
4. Motor Strain and Premature Opener Failure
When the opener forces the door downward against resistance, internal gears and motor components experience stress. Over time, this can lead to logic board damage or complete motor failure. Opener replacement falls into the higher repair range compared to minor sensor adjustments.
5. Cable or Track Damage
Uneven pressure during forced closing can cause cables to loosen or tracks to bend. This increases the risk of the door going off track, requiring a more serious structural repair.
6. Insurance Liability Concerns
If someone is injured due to a disabled safety system, insurance providers may question whether the system was properly maintained.
7. Voided Manufacturer Warranty
Most garage door opener manufacturers clearly state that tampering with safety devices voids warranty coverage.
What You Should Check Before Scheduling Service
Before assuming the sensors have failed, we recommend checking a few simple items:
- Make sure nothing blocks the sensor beam.
- Gently clean both sensor lenses with a soft cloth.
- Confirm that both LED indicator lights are steady.
- Check that both sensors face each other directly.
- Inspect for loose or hanging wires.
- Look for signs of moisture exposure near the brackets.
We do not recommend adjusting springs, cables, or internal wiring. Those components operate under high tension and can be dangerous.
If cleaning and visual inspection do not resolve the issue, professional diagnosis is the safest next step.
Why Cold Weather in Indianapolis Causes Sensor Problems
Local weather plays a major role in garage door troubleshooting.
Indianapolis temperature swings can cause:
- Metal brackets to shift slightly
- Condensation buildup on sensor lenses
- Ice is forming along the garage floor
- Wiring contraction during freezing conditions
Salt from winter roads accelerates corrosion near the bottom of the garage frame. We typically see an increase in sensor-related service calls during the late fall and winter months.
A seasonal inspection before winter often prevents emergency breakdowns.
Average Repair Cost Ranges in Indianapolis
Exact costs depend on the issue, but generally for a residential garage door system:
- Cleaning or minor alignment: lower repair range
- Sensor replacement: moderate repair range
- Wiring repair: moderate repair range
- Opener logic board replacement: higher repair range
Addressing the issue early usually keeps repairs in the lower range. Waiting or attempting to bypass the system can increase long-term repair needs and potentially affect other components of the residential garage door system.
Safer Alternatives Instead of Bypassing the Sensors
If your garage door safety sensors are not working correctly, consider:
- Scheduling a professional inspection
- Realigning or replacing worn sensors
- Securing or repairing damaged wiring
- Upgrading older opener systems
- Adding weather sealing to reduce moisture exposure
These solutions apply to both residential and commercial garage door systems, where safety compliance is even more critical due to higher usage and heavier door weight.
Annual maintenance helps identify minor alignment or corrosion issues before they become serious problems.
For many Indianapolis homeowners and business owners, preventive maintenance once per year helps prevent unexpected winter-related failures and keeps the system operating safely and reliably.
When It’s Time to Call a Garage Door Professional
We recommend professional service if:
- The door fails the reversal safety test
- Sensor lights remain off after cleaning
- Wiring appears damaged
- The opener hums, but the door does not move
- A bracket is bent due to impact
- The door reverses randomly despite clear alignment
- You suspect a broken or worn garage door spring
Garage doors operate under high mechanical tension, especially the garage door spring system, and they also involve electrical components within the opener. Attempting to diagnose spring or internal system issues without proper tools can be dangerous. Professional inspection ensures safe, accurate, and long-lasting repair.
Should You Ever Bypass Garage Door Safety Sensors?
No garage door opener safety sensors should be bypassed.
They are federally required safety components designed to protect people, pets, vehicles, and property. Most issues stem from alignment, dirt buildup, wiring damage, or weather-related conditions, especially in Indianapolis.
Disabling a safety feature to solve a temporary inconvenience can lead to serious injury, structural damage, or higher repair costs.
If your garage door will not close properly, proper inspection and repair are always the safer solution.
Trusted Garage Door Repair Experts in Indianapolis, IN
For homeowners in Indianapolis, Affordable Garage Door Repairs of Indianapolis, LLC provides professional diagnostics, safety inspections, and reliable garage door repairs backed by hands-on industry experience. We focus on correcting the root cause rather than applying temporary fixes, ensuring your system operates safely and consistently year-round. If your garage door sensors are acting up, contact us today or give us a call to schedule a professional inspection and restore your door’s safety and performance with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most openers allow you to hold the wall button down to close the door manually when sensors are not communicating. However, this should only be a temporary measure. If the sensors are not working, the safety reversal system is disabled, which increases risk. We always recommend diagnosing the issue as soon as possible.
In our experience, the most common causes are misalignment, dirty lenses, loose wiring, or moisture exposure. In Indianapolis, winter condensation and salt corrosion are frequent contributors. Sudden failure is often environmental rather than a complete sensor breakdown.
If one sensor LED is blinking while the other is solid, that usually indicates alignment issues. The sensors must face each other directly. Even a slight shift in the bracket can interrupt the beam. We often see this happen after minor bumps from trash bins or lawn equipment.
Yes, they can. While sensors are durable, age, moisture, wiring fatigue, and power surges can affect them. In older Indianapolis homes with original opener systems, we sometimes see sensor degradation after 10 to 15 years. Power fluctuations are often overlooked, but they can interfere with opener electronics over time, as explained by Overhead Door Joliet.
Cold weather does not usually damage the sensor itself, but it can affect alignment and wiring. Metal brackets contract in freezing temperatures, and condensation can form on the lens. We see an increase in sensor-related service calls during Indiana winters.
Holding the wall button overrides the remote safety check. This happens when the opener does not detect a proper signal from the photo eye sensors. While this feature allows temporary closure, it should not replace proper repair.
Yes. Direct sunlight hitting the receiving sensor can weaken or overpower the infrared beam. We commonly see this in west-facing garages in the late afternoon. Slight adjustments or sun shields often resolve this issue.
Basic visual alignment and gentle adjustments are generally safe if you avoid disturbing wiring or brackets under tension. However, if the issue involves damaged wires, mounting brackets, or opener electronics, professional service is safer.
Ignoring the issue can lead to inconsistent door operation, strain on the opener motor, and increased wear on cables and tracks. More importantly, it removes an essential safety layer that protects children, pets, and vehicles. Broader garage door safety concerns are also discussed by JustLuxe, highlighting why maintaining fully functional safety components is so important for homeowners.
We recommend inspecting sensors every three to six months and scheduling professional maintenance once a year. In Indianapolis, a fall inspection before winter helps prevent cold-weather alignment and corrosion issues.
