How Safe are Safety Sensors?

Safety is the number one issue regarding garage doors. Many things could go wrong with a garage system leading the door to unexpectedly close down but the reverse mechanism ought to keep it from hitting anyone. The need for the safety sensors became imminent after a great number of garage door accidents. In 1993 sensors became a must. Older electric garage door openers had to be replaced and new ones ought to comply with all regulations of UL325.

UL325 is a testing laboratory, which examines the new openers and lists them as safe as long as openers have sufficient safety features. The photo eyes are actually beams that meet one another under the door and control its movement. The sensors are installed at both sides of the door and, in fact, six inches above the floor so that the photo eyes can see a child or any other obstruction even at the last minute. Once they see the obstruction, they reverse the door.

What are our responsibilities?

So, do we all feel safer? The truth is that we ought to be. Manufacturers have done a thorough work, keep searching for more effective methods and announce warnings. The sensors do see you when you pass under the door and do reverse its movement as long as they work. It doesn't hurt to remember one simple thing: the smallest problem can have disastrous effects. If the lenses of the sensors are not clean, the beams might not see your child. So, the question is not really whether the garage door opener sensors provide safety but whether we're aware of our own responsibilities.

Manufacturers do what they have to do but it's up to us to do garage door opener sensors maintenance. We ought to know a couple of basic things in order to ensure that the reverse mechanism works okay and we're not in danger. For example, if you try to stop the overhead door from closing down by simply touching it, the door should reverse. If not, you need garage door opener repairs. Make sure the green and red lights on the sensors are on and if not, adjust the sensors by turning them till the lights come on. Put an object under on the floor when the door is closing down and see if it reverses. Now ask yourself: how often do you do these things?