Garage Door Safety Checklist
The Largest Moving Object in Your Home
Your garage door serves as a primary entrance, but it can be dangerous if not maintained. Perform these checks monthly to ensure safe operation.
1. The Photo-Eye Reversal Test
Why: Ensures the door won't close on a person or object.
How to Test: Open the door. Place an object (like a broom) in the path of the sensors near the floor. Push the close button. The door should NOT close. If it does, your sensors are misaligned or broken.
2. The Force Setting Test
Why: Prevents the door from crushing something even if the photo-eye is missed.
How to Test: While the door is closing, hold the bottom of the door with your hands outstretched. It should reverse easily with moderate resistance. If it keeps pushing, the force setting is too high.
⚠️ DANGER ZONE: Torsion Springs
The springs above your door are under immense tension. NEVER attempt to repair, adjust, or replace torsion springs yourself. Severe injury or death can occur.
Signs of Broken Springs:
- Loud "gunshot" noise in the garage.
- Door only opens a few inches and stops.
- Visible gap effectively splitting the spring in two.