Essential Garage Door Safety Features Every Family Needs
December 20, 2023 7 min read
# Essential Garage Door Safety Features Every Family Needs
Your garage door is likely the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. A standard two-car garage door can weigh 300-400 pounds or more. While modern garage doors are designed with safety in mind, it's crucial to understand these safety features and ensure they're working properly.
Mandatory Safety Features
Since 1993, all garage door openers sold in the United States must include two safety reversing mechanisms:
1. Photo-Eye Sensors
These sensors are mounted 4-6 inches above the floor on each side of the door opening. They emit an invisible infrared beam across the doorway. If anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the door immediately reverses direction.
Common Issues: - Misalignment (sensors not facing each other) - Dirty lenses blocking the beam, Sun interference (particularly in afternoon) - Damaged wiring
Testing: Place an object (like a cardboard box) in the door's path and press the close button. The door should reverse immediately upon hitting the box or when the beam is broken.
2. Auto-Reverse Mechanism
If the closing door contacts an obstruction, it should automatically reverse and open. This mechanical safety feature works even if the photo-eyes fail.
Testing: Place a 2x4 flat on the ground in the door's path. The door should reverse upon contact with the wood. If it doesn't reverse within 2 seconds of contact, the opener needs adjustment or repair.
Additional Safety Features
Beyond the mandatory features, consider these additional safety measures:
Manual Release
Every garage door opener has an emergency release (usually a red cord hanging from the trolley). This allows you to disconnect the door from the opener and operate it manually during power outages or opener failures.
Rolling Code Technology
Modern remotes use rolling codes that change after each use, preventing code theft. If your opener is more than 20 years old, it may use fixed codes that can be duplicated.
Timer-to-Close
This feature automatically closes the door after a set period, ensuring you never accidentally leave it open overnight.
Motion-Activated Lighting
Built-in lights that activate when motion is detected improve visibility and security.
Teaching Garage Door Safety to Children
Educate your children about these important safety rules: 1. Never play near or under a moving garage door 2. Never touch the springs, cables, or other hardware 3. Keep fingers away from door sections when the door is moving 4. The remote is not a toy 5. Never try to race under a closing door
When to Call a Professional
Contact a professional immediately if: - Safety sensors aren't working or are inconsistent, The door doesn't reverse when it should, Springs or cables appear damaged, The door operates erratically, You hear unusual sounds during operation
At Garage Door Coronado, safety is our top priority. We offer comprehensive safety inspections and can bring your system up to current standards.