When your garage door works correctly, you probably don’t think twice about safety and security. However, accidents and malfunctions can happen. Checking your garage door opener safety in an annual or twice-yearly test can help you uncover and fix potential problems before an injury occurs.
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Garage Door Safety Regulations
Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds and can cause serious damage if they malfunction, which is why the government mandated several garage door safety requirements in the 1980s and 1990s. Modern garage doors must have a safety reverse feature and quick release mechanism to help prevent entrapment.
Since the 1990s, garage door regulations require garage doors to have motion sensors and photo eyes. These safety systems reverse a garage door if the door’s cycle is interrupted or doesn’t complete. If you have an older garage door, you should confirm your system meets all current safety regulations.
Performing a Garage Door Safety Check
Whether your garage door is older or brand new, you should conduct a safety check at least once or twice a year. Follow these steps:
- Visually inspect the garage door: Look for any signs of loose parts, wear and tear or anything that appears broken. Do the springs seem to be stretched out, worn or broken? Make sure that when the garage door opens and closes, it moves smoothly and evenly without sagging or jerking.
- Listen to your door: Listen for unusual sounds such as pops, bangs, squeaks or squeals. Odd sounds can indicate that part of your door needs lubrication, is damaged or faces other problems. You’ll want to fix the issue before the problem gets worse or your door stops working correctly altogether.
- Check the garage door safety sensor: There should be photo eyes mounted no more than 6 inches off the floor on the sides of your garage door frame. Block the photo eye with an object taller than 6 inches, such as a cardboard box. Next, close the garage door with your opener. If working properly, your garage door should sense the object and stop.
- Test the reverse safety feature: The reverse feature is another important part of your safety system. To test it, place an object 1 1/2 to 5 inches high in the path of your garage door and attempt to close it. The door should automatically reverse when it encounters the object.
Call R&R Doors for Maintenance and Repair
Our team at R&R Doors are experts in garage door repair. We can handle quick and thorough repairs to bring you better security and peace of mind. If your garage door safety check shows anything amiss, contact R & R Doors to speak to us or schedule service to get the issue solved today!