2024-01-15 6 min read Washingtonville Garage Doors
Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home, weighing between 150 to 400 pounds depending on its size and material. Without proper safety features, a closing garage door can cause serious injury or even death. That's why the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has mandated that all garage door openers manufactured after 1993 include auto-reverse safety features.
The safety reversal system is designed to detect when something.or someone.is in the path of a closing door and immediately reverse the door's direction. This system has two main components: photo-eye sensors and mechanical force sensitivity. Understanding how these work and testing them regularly is essential for every homeowner.
Photo-eye sensors, also called safety eyes or infrared sensors, are mounted on either side of your garage door opening, approximately 6 inches above the floor. One sensor emits an invisible infrared beam, while the other receives it. When the beam is broken by any object.a person, pet, bicycle, or toy.the system signals the opener to stop and reverse the door.
These sensors are incredibly effective, but they require proper alignment to function correctly. If the sensors become misaligned, dirty, or damaged, they may fail to detect obstacles, creating a dangerous situation.
To test your photo-eye sensors, you'll need a cardboard box or similar object:
1. Open your garage door fully 2. Place the cardboard box in the door's path, breaking the sensor beam 3. Press the wall button or remote to close the door 4. The door should not close while the object breaks the beam 5. If the door attempts to close, DO NOT use your garage door until the sensors are repaired
This simple test takes less than a minute and should be performed monthly. If the test fails, check that the sensor lenses are clean and the units are properly aligned. Most sensors have LED lights that indicate proper alignment.consult your owner's manual for specific details.
The second component of your safety system is mechanical force sensitivity. When the closing door encounters resistance.such as from an object or person.it should stop and reverse within 2 seconds. Here's how to test it:
1. Open your garage door 2. Lay a 2x4 board flat on the floor in the center of the door's path 3. Close the door using your remote or wall button 4. When the door contacts the board, it should reverse immediately 5. If the door continues pushing down or takes more than 2 seconds to reverse, adjustment is needed
Important Safety Note: Never use your hand, foot, or any body part to test force sensitivity. Always use a solid object like lumber.
While basic testing is something every homeowner should do, any adjustments to the garage door system should be left to professionals. Garage door springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury if mishandled. If your safety tests reveal problems, contact a certified garage door technician immediately.
At Washingtonville Garage Doors, we include safety testing as part of every service call and maintenance visit. Our technicians are trained to ensure your entire system.including safety features.is functioning properly to protect your family.
We recommend testing your garage door's safety features at least once per month. Here's a simple routine:
- First of the month: Test photo-eye sensors - Middle of the month: Test force sensitivity - Any time: Visual inspection for damage or misalignment
By making safety testing a regular habit, you're taking an important step in protecting your family and maintaining your garage door system. If you have any concerns about your garage door's safety features, don't hesitate to contact us for a professional inspection.