Why Does My Garage Door Light Stay On?

All day, you thought the garage door opener light had turned off after you left. Then you arrive home after work to find it’s still on! The light is supposed to switch off automatically after a few minutes, so what happened?  We will explain a few answers to the question, “Why does my garage door light stay on?” in detail.

Reasons a Garage Door Light Won’t Shut Off

The garage door opener light normally stays on for about 4 minutes. It is connected to a timer and controlled by a logic receiver board. If the light does not shut off, here are the main reasons why:

The Light Switch Was Turned On

You can manually control the garage door light on the wall panel. If the light switch here is engaged, the light will stay on. To turn it off, simply press the button or touchscreen to disable the light switch. It’s easier than you think to activate it accidentally. But now, the light should stay off until you activate it again or open the garage door.

The Motion Sensor Detected Movement

The motion sensor on your garage door opener will trigger the light when it senses someone has walked in front of it. You can turn the feature off remotely or at the wall panel. But it is included for safety reasons. Walking around a dark garage can result in tripping over something and getting hurt. Therefore, the motion sensor is a useful feature, and some are sensitive enough to detect heat. Check the product manual for the type of sensor you have.

The Light Has Been Activated

The light feature may have been intentionally set to run automatically. Some garage door opener lights operate through the photo eye sensors. When something passes in front of the sensors, or you enter or exit the garage, the light comes on. 

Disengage the light using the wall-mounted control panel or any remote access features. To do so, find the light settings in the control menu. Then click the automatic light button and turn off the sensory function.

The System Needs to Be Reset

If you’re still asking why your garage door light stays on after trying these steps, reset the logic board. First, reset the light timer so it turns off in 90 seconds instead of 4 minutes. Then disconnect the power and wiring from the garage door opener. Wait 90 seconds and reconnect the power. If the lights come on, reconnect the opener.

When to Call for Help

But if the lights don’t come on or act erratically, the wiring in the logic board may be faulty. The underlying problem may be more significant than you realize. If it’s not fixed soon, other parts of your garage door system may be damaged, costing more in repairs.

Call for help if the lights blink on and off or a red light appears after restoring the power. A garage door technician will inspect the system for wiring and other problems. 

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

Why does my garage door light stay on?” is not a question you should ignore. The issue may be more than a simple nuisance. At the very least, it will draw more power than necessary. At Mesa Garage Doors, our experienced technicians will find the root cause of the problem and quickly complete any necessary adjustments or repairs. We work with all types of garage door openers. Book online or call (714) 844-5741 to schedule service and receive a free repair estimate.