Inspecting and testing your garage door can help ensure that it is functions properly and doesn’t pose any risks to you, your family, or your property. Here’s how you can test your garage door safety and ensure that it safe for use:
1. Test Your Garage Door Entrapment Protection
Inherent Primary Entrapment Protection – RPM Sensor
To test your garage door RPM system, open the door fully and place a soft object (e.g., toilet paper or a paper towel roll) without obstructing the sensor’s infrared beam. Press the opener’s remote or wall button to close the door. Upon contacting the object, the door should reverse or stop.
The Primary Entrapment Protection includes an RPM system that gauges the motor’s speed. It automatically shuts down or reverses operation if there’s a sudden change in motor speed. For instance, if someone or something becomes trapped under a closing or opening garage door, causing increased pressure and slowing down the motor, the door will reverse or halt its operation.
Secondary Entrapment Protection – Photo Eyes
To test your garage door’s photo eyes, open the door fully and place an object (e.g., toilet paper or a paper towel roll) between the sensors to block the infrared beam. Press the opener’s remote or wall button to close the door; it should reverse operation within a maximum of 2 seconds.
The secondary non-contact entrapment protection includes two photo eyes positioned on both edges of the garage door’s opening. These sensors use invisible infrared radiation to detect objects in the doorway. If the beam is obstructed during the closing cycle, the garage door will reverse its operation. This feature does not affect the garage door during the opening cycle.
2. Test Your Emergency Release Function
Electric garage doors feature an emergency release (manual release) allowing manual operation by disengaging the opener. To test the manual release, bring the door to a fully closed position, disconnect the opener by pulling the red cord on the garage door opener rail until the latch points down. Lift the garage door manually and lower it.
To reconnect the door to the opener, pull the red cord again, bringing the latch to a sideways position and engaging the trolley with the carriage. Note that specific opener brands may have slight variations in this process, but the overall idea remains consistent.
3. Test Your Garage Door Battery Backup
This applies only if you have a garage door opener equipped with a battery backup, designed to keep the electric garage door working in case of a power surge. To test your garage door battery backup, unplug the door opener, then open and close it once using the wall button or remote control. Plug the opener back into the outlet.
4. Test Your Unattended Operation Function
This applies only if you connected your smart garage door opener to your home network and use it via smart devices. When a smart device is being used to operate the garage door, it’s being referred to as “unattended operation” as the user operating the garage door isn’t necessarily on-site.
To test this function, simply use your smart device to open or close the garage door when you’re inside the garage. The opener should alert the surroundings visually and audibly for at least 5 seconds, before activating the door.
5. Test Your Garage Door Balance
All vertically moving garage doors are equipped with springs to counterbalance their weight. To test the garage door balance, disconnect the door from the opener when the door in a closed position. Lift the door manually to the waistline and shoulder line. The garage door should stay in place and not come crashing down or pull up. Note that minor deviations are normal and should not be a concern.
6. Inspect the Garage Door Hardware
Inspect the garage door hardware and parts for wear, looseness, or breakage. This includes the rollers, hinges, cables, door fixtures and supporting brackets, opener mounting fixtures, torsion assembly, and end plates. Check the rollers by pushing the wheels in and out to ensure they are not excessively loose. Examine the hinges and end bearing plates for any black powder residue or excessive looseness. Inspect the torsion assembly for alignment issues and the door cables for any fraying or wear.
How to Ensure That Your Garage Door Is Safe for Use?
Periodic maintenance, safety inspections, and balance testing are the most effective ways to ensure that your garage door complies with industry safety standards and maintains safe and efficient working conditions. If your garage door opener was manufactured prior to 1993 and doesn’t have photoelectric sensors, it is recommended to replace it with a modern garage door opener.
How Often Should You Test Your Garage Door?
The CPSC recommends to regularly inspect garage doors and its safety features every 30 day. Although periodic maintenance should be performed by a licensed garage door repair company every 6 to 12 months.
My garage door hasn’t been working very well lately, mostly getting stuck randomly and not rising or falling like it should. Your tips for how to troubleshoot will really help, especially where you talk about testing the infrared sensors to ensure that they’re triggering properly. If that doesn’t seem to be the problem causing the halts, I’ll probably check the motor next or else have a repair service come and look at it, as you suggest.
I rent a home. My landlord says I have to pay for the spring repair.
Is this repair considered a safety and security issue?
It is about 25 years old. Is this wear and tear?
Hello, Charity. Thanks for reaching out!
The spring wears out due to natural wear and tear or fatigue if you like. When it reaches to its cycle limit, it will eventually break (You can learn more about it here).
The spring is responsible for generating the force required to support the garage door’s mass, what makes the door light enough to operate. Garage doors can weigh up to 800 lbs. or more and with no force generated by the spring, the garage door has its full mass in effect.