Garage
Door Opener Safety
There are routine safety and maintenance
steps that you should follow once a month. Review your
owner's manual for the door opener. If you do not have
an owner's manual, look for the opener model number
on the back of the power unit and request a manual
from the manufacturer.
Reversal
Test
Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a
reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced.
Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993
are required by federal law to have advanced safety
features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards:
Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional
information.
Test the reversing feature every
month.
- First, test the balance of the
door (see "Testing and Maintaining The Garage
Door."). If the door is properly balanced, then
proceed.
With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2" thick
piece of wood (a 2"x4" laid flat) on the
flooring the center of the door.
- Push the transmitter or wall button
to close the door. The door must reverse when it
strikes the wood. (Note that the bottom part of "one
piece doors" must be rigid so that the door
will not close without reversing.)
- If the door does not have reverse,
have it repaired or replaced. Have a qualified individual
adjust, repair or replace the opener or door.
Force
Setting Test
Test the force setting of your garage door opener by
holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the
door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive
and need adjusting. See your owner's manual for details
on how to make the adjustment. Test the reversing feature
after any adjustment.
Additional
Safety Devices
Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional
safety devices. Consider adding a photo eye or edge
sensor as an extra measure of safety to prevent against
entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices
will not make old opener meet current U.L. standards.
Make sure the additional safety
devices, such as photo eyes or edge sensors, are
properly installed and adjusted (see owner's manual).
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