2023-12-20 5 min read
Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home, weighing anywhere from 150 to 400 pounds or more. While modern doors are engineered for safety, understanding and maintaining these features is essential for protecting your family.
Since 1993, all garage door openers sold in the United States must include photo eye sensors. These devices:
- Mount on either side of the door opening, about 6 inches from the floor, Project an invisible infrared beam across the opening, Stop and reverse the door if anything breaks the beam while closing
Testing Your Sensors Monthly testing is recommended: 1. Place an object (like a cardboard box) in the door's path 2. Close the door using the opener 3. The door should stop and reverse when it reaches the object 4. If it doesn't, call for service immediately
Common Sensor Issues - Misalignment (sensors have indicator lights that show alignment status) - Dirty lenses (clean with a soft cloth) - Sun interference (direct sunlight can disrupt the beam) - Damaged wiring
In addition to photo eyes, openers must include a mechanical auto-reverse feature. When the door contacts an object while closing, it must automatically reverse.
Testing Auto-Reverse 1. Place a 2x4 flat on the floor in the door's path 2. Close the door using the opener 3. When the door touches the wood, it should immediately reverse 4. If the door doesn't reverse or takes more than 2 seconds, adjustment is needed
Adjusting Sensitivity Most openers have adjustment screws for close force and travel limits. However, we recommend professional adjustment to ensure proper calibration.
Every automatic garage door has an emergency release.typically a red rope hanging from the trolley. This disconnects the door from the opener, allowing manual operation during:
- Power outages, Opener malfunctions, Emergency evacuations
Know How to Use It Practice operating the manual release before you need it: 1. Pull down on the red handle 2. Lift the door manually 3. Note: The door will be heavy if springs are broken
Safety Warning Never use the manual release if the door is partially open and you suspect a spring is broken. The door could slam down rapidly.
Modern openers use rolling code technology for security. Each time you use the remote, the opener and remote exchange a new code from among billions of combinations. This prevents "code grabbing" by thieves.
If your opener is more than 20 years old, it may lack this feature. Consider upgrading for improved security.
Many newer openers include battery backup systems. When the power goes out, you can still:
- Open and close the door using the remote or wall button, Exit safely during emergencies, Return home without manually operating the heavy door
Batteries typically need replacement every 1-3 years.
This feature automatically closes your door after a set period (usually 1-10 minutes). It's particularly useful if you often forget to close the door or want it to close automatically after you leave.
Garage doors can be fascinating to children but incredibly dangerous. Teach your children:
- Never play with or near the garage door, Never stand under a moving door, Never touch the door's moving parts, The remote and wall button are not toys, Never race under a closing door
Control Access - Mount wall buttons at least 5 feet high, Keep remotes away from children, Use keypads with codes children don't know, Consider smart openers with access controls
Safety features only work if properly maintained:
Contact Garage Door Long Beach immediately if you notice:
- Photo eyes not functioning, Door not reversing when obstructed, Unusual sounds or jerky movement, Door doesn't stay in place when opened manually, Visible damage to springs, cables, or tracks, Door feels unusually heavy
Failing garage door safety features have caused numerous injuries and deaths. Most incidents involve children and occur when safety sensors are bypassed or malfunctioning.
Don't take chances with your family's safety. Regular maintenance and prompt repairs are small investments compared to the protection they provide.
Schedule your safety inspection with Garage Door Long Beach today. We'll thoroughly test all safety features and ensure your garage door system is protecting your family as designed.