2024-10-15 5 min read Garage Door Wakefield Team
Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home, weighing anywhere from 150 to over 400 pounds. While modern garage doors are designed with safety in mind, it's crucial for homeowners to understand the safety features their doors should have and how to ensure they're working properly. This guide covers the essential safety features that protect your family, pets, and property.
Since 1993, all garage door openers sold in the United States have been required to include photo-eye sensors. These sensors are mounted on either side of the garage door opening, about 6 inches from the floor. They project an invisible beam across the doorway; if anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the door immediately reverses direction.
You should test your photo-eye sensors monthly. Here's how:
1. Open the garage door completely 2. Press the close button on your wall control or remote 3. While the door is closing, wave a broomstick or similar object through the beam 4. The door should immediately stop and reverse
If the door doesn't reverse, check that the sensors are properly aligned and clean any dirt or cobwebs from the lenses. If problems persist, contact a professional immediately.
In addition to photo-eye sensors, garage door openers include an auto-reverse feature that activates when the door encounters an obstruction during closing. This mechanical safety feature uses pressure sensitivity to detect when the door has contacted something it shouldn't have.
Place a 2x4 board flat on the ground in the center of the doorway. Close the garage door.it should reverse within two seconds of touching the board. If it doesn't, the sensitivity settings may need adjustment. Consult your owner's manual or call a professional for assistance.
Every garage door opener should have a manual release that allows you to disconnect the door from the opener and operate it by hand. This feature is essential during power outages or if the opener malfunctions. The manual release is typically a red cord or handle hanging from the opener rail.
Practice using the manual release so you're familiar with the process before an emergency occurs. Remember that when disconnected, the door will operate purely on its counterbalance springs.a properly balanced door should be easy to lift by hand.
Newer garage door openers often include battery backup systems that allow the door to operate even during power outages. This feature ensures you're never locked in or out of your garage due to a power failure. Battery backups typically provide enough power for several dozen open/close cycles, giving you plenty of capacity during short outages.
Timer-to-close features automatically close your garage door after a preset period of time. This is invaluable for those occasions when you forget to close the door. Most smart openers allow you to customize the delay time and can send notifications before closing.
Many modern garage door openers include built-in lighting that activates when motion is detected. This provides illumination when you enter the garage, improving safety and security. LED bulbs are recommended as they provide bright light, last longer, and don't interfere with the opener's wireless signals.
While not a physical safety feature, rolling code technology protects your family by preventing garage door code theft. Each time you use your remote, the opener and remote synchronize to a new code from billions of possibilities. This makes it virtually impossible for criminals to capture and replay your remote's signal.
Even the best safety features can fail if not properly maintained. Schedule annual professional inspections to ensure all components are working correctly. Between inspections, perform monthly tests of the photo-eye and auto-reverse features.
If your garage door opener was manufactured before 1993, it likely lacks modern safety features. We strongly recommend upgrading to a new opener with all current safety technologies. The investment is minimal compared to the protection it provides for your family.
At Garage Door Wakefield, we specialize in garage door safety. Whether you need a safety inspection, maintenance, or a complete opener upgrade, our certified technicians are here to help. Contact us today to ensure your garage door is protecting your family the way it should.