At Mehr’s Garage Doors, we know how important it is for your home’s safety and security that your garage door works properly. As a top company offering garage door installation, repair, and maintenance services in St. George, Utah, we understand the importance of homeowners fully understanding safety sensors, one of the most critical parts of their garage door system.
Garage door safety sensors, also called photo eyes or infrared sensors, are meant to keep people from hurting themselves when the garage door closes. Since 1993, these small but powerful devices have had to be on all garage doors, and for good reason. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says garage doors hurt thousands of people every year. Children and pets are especially at risk.
This is the complete guide to garage door safety sensors. We’ll review how they work, how to install and keep them in good shape, and how to fix problems. We’ll also talk about how important it is to have a professional install and maintain your garage door and give you more safety tips to keep you and your family safe.
After reading this guide, you’ll know everything there is to know about garage door safety sensors and be able to check that your system is working safely and efficiently confidently.
The safety sensors in your garage door system are essential to ensuring that the door stops moving if it senses an item or person in its way. The two main categories of safety sensors are photoelectric sensors and mechanical sensors.
The most common type of sensor is a photoelectric sensor, which has two parts: a transmitter and a receiver. An infrared beam from the transmitter goes through the garage door opening and to the receiver on the other side. If something or someone blocks this beam while the door closes, the receiver tells the garage door opener to stop and reverse the door’s motion. This keeps a possible dangerous accident from happening.
The transmitter and receiver are expected to be about six inches above the garage floor, one on each door opening. This setting ensures the sensors can detect things or people of different heights, including pets and small children. Low-voltage wires link the sensors to the garage door opener. These wires give the devices power and let them talk to each other.
However, mechanical sensors use pressure to find obstacles. These sensors are usually attached to the bottom part of the garage door. When they touch something, they turn it on. When the door closes and the sensor meets resistance, it tells the opening to stop and turn it around.
No matter what kind of monitor your garage door has, the goal is to prevent people from getting hurt when the door closes. These devices are an essential safety net that keeps you, your family, and your things safe.
It’s important to remember that even though garage door safety sensors are made to work reliably, they can sometimes not because they are dirty, out of line, or damaged. To ensure your sensors work correctly, they must be tested and maintained regularly. In the following parts, we’ll discuss how to install, maintain, and fix problems with your garage door safety sensors so that they always work perfectly.
It is crucial to correctly install garage door safety sensors to ensure they work well and reliably. At Mehr’s Garage Doors, we provide the safety sensors on every garage door we service are installed correctly by following tight guidelines and the manufacturer’s words.
Finding the correct mounting height is the first step in installing garage door safety sensors. As we already said, the sensors should be on both sides of the door, opening about six inches above the garage floor. At this height, the sensors can pick up on items and people, and there is a low chance of false triggers from things like debris or uneven flooring.
After that, the transmitter and receiver need to be lined up correctly. If the sensors aren’t lined up right, the garage door might turn without warning or not close. For accurate alignment, our techs use special tools and their knowledge to make small changes until the sensors are perfectly lined up and can talk to each other appropriately.
After the sensors are fixed and lined up, they must be hooked up to the garage door opener. To do this, low-voltage wires must be run from the sensors to the opener to ensure the link is safe and secure. Our techs are very careful to keep the cables from getting damaged and to move them in a way that makes it less likely that they will interfere with each other or get disconnected by accident.
Our technicians run some tests on the safety sensors to ensure they work right after installation. One way to test the auto-reverse function is to put something in the way of the closing door and ensure that the door turns around when the beam is cut off. We also check the response time and sensitivity of the sensors to ensure they meet safety standards and the manufacturer’s requirements.
Putting in garage door safety sensors correctly takes skill, knowledge, and close attention to detail. That’s why it’s essential to let skilled professionals like Mehr’s Garage Doors install your safety sensors. Ensuring your sensors are set up correctly will give you peace of mind that your garage door works safely and reliably.
In the next part, we’ll discuss why regular maintenance and troubleshooting are essential for keeping your garage door safety sensors in great shape.
Garage door safety sensors can stop working, even if installed correctly. To keep your family safe and your sensors working well, they must be serviced regularly and fixed when they break.
A dirty lens is one of the most common problems with garage door sensors. Dust, dirt, and spiders can build up on the lenses over time, blocking the infrared beam and making the sensors unusable. To prevent this, we suggest you clean the lenses with a soft cloth every so often. Do not use rough chemicals or materials that could scratch or damage the lenses.
Misaligned sensors are another common issue. The sensors can become out of alignment due to vibrations from the garage door, bumps, or even the garage floor shifting. If your garage door suddenly reverses or won’t close, ensure the sensors are lined up correctly. With their LED lights constantly on, the transmitter and receiver should face each other straight. If necessary, gently move the sensors until they are in the right place.
Garage door sensors can also not work because of problems with the wiring. Check the lines from the sensors to the garage door opener for damage, such as fraying, cuts, or loose connections. If you see any harm, call a professional for repairs or replacements.
If your sensors need to be fixed after you’ve cleaned, aligned, and checked the wires, there may be a bigger problem. Here are some common issues:
Please call Mehr’s Garage Doors if you need help fixing your garage door sensors or if the problems keep happening. Our skilled techs can quickly find and fix any sensor issues, ensuring your garage door works safely and smoothly.
If you regularly maintain your garage door sensors and fix any problems immediately, they will stay in great shape. By being cautious and fixing any issues right away, you can make your sensors last longer and avoid more significant problems in the future.
Although installing or repairing garage door safety sensors on your own might be tempting, it’s essential to know that these jobs should only be done by trained professionals. At Mehr’s Garage Doors, we firmly believe that your garage door system should only be installed and maintained by professionals to ensure that it is safe, reliable, and lasts a long time.
One of the main reasons to let professionals handle your garage door sensors is to ensure they work correctly. Our skilled technicians know how to properly set up and maintain your sensors because they have the right tools, knowledge, and experience. They know all the ins and outs of different garage door systems and can quickly figure out what’s wrong and fix it.
Professional installation and maintenance also help ensure safety rules and laws are followed. Organizations like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have strict garage door safety sensor regulations. Our techs constantly learn about the newest safety rules and the best ways to ensure your garage door system meets or exceeds these requirements.
Professional installation and care can give homeowners peace of mind and ensure everything works correctly and meets the rules. If you know that trained professionals installed and maintained your garage door sensors, you can be sure that your family and belongings are safe from accidents or injuries.
Professional maintenance can also help your garage door sensors last longer and keep you from having to pay for expensive fixes down the road. When our technicians find and fix problems early on, they can help you escape more significant issues that might need more extensive repairs or even replacement of your garage door sensors or other parts.
Regarding all garage door systems, Mehr’s Garage Doors is proud to offer top-notch installation and maintenance services. Homeowners in St. George, Utah, and the nearby areas trust us because we care about being professional, keeping them safe, and ensuring they are happy.
Contact Mehr’s Garage Doors immediately if you need garage door sensor installation, repair, or maintenance. We’ll work with you to ensure that your garage door system works properly, safely, and effectively so you can enjoy the peace of mind you deserve.
Yes, garage door safety sensors are essential to a safe and effective garage door system. However, you can still make your garage safer in other ways. We at Mehr’s Garage Doors believe in giving our clients the tools and information they need to keep their homes secure.
Educate your children about garage door safety. They should not play with or near the garage door and stay away from it when it moves. They should know that the garage door is not a toy and that they should not try to run under it or hold on to it while it’s moving.
Another essential safety tip is to keep your garage door remote controls out of reach of children. Kids may want to play with the remote, which could hurt them or damage the house. Please keep your remotes in your car, where they can be quickly accessed. Instead, put them somewhere safe, like a high shelf or a locked drawer.
Another essential safety tip is regularly testing your garage door’s auto-reverse option. This safety device is required by law on all garage doors made after 1993. It keeps the door from closing on people or things. To test the auto-reverse option, put something minor, like wood, on the ground before closing the door. Call a professional for fixes if the door doesn’t move back when it hits something.
Lastly, remember how important maintaining your garage door hardware is. Check your springs, wires, rollers, and hinges often for damage or signs of wear. Call Mehr’s Garage Doors for a skilled inspection and repair if you see any fraying, rusting, or other problems that worry you. Keeping your garage door gear in good shape can keep your system from breaking down and running longer.
Your safety is our top priority at Mehr’s Garage Doors. These extra garage door safety tips, along with our skilled technicians’ installation and maintenance of your garage door sensors, will make your home safer for you and your family.
This guide discussed how vital garage door safety sensors are for keeping your home and family safe. We’ve also discussed how these sensors work, why proper installation and maintenance are essential, and common ways to fix problems that might happen so your sensors keep working at their best.
We’ve also discussed the importance of having trained professionals, like the experts at Mehr’s Garage Doors, handle the installation and maintenance of garage door sensors. If you hire skilled professionals, you can be sure that your sensors are correctly installed, meet safety standards, and work reliably and for a long time.
We’ve also provided helpful garage door safety tips that don’t just involve sensors, such as teaching kids about garage door safety, keeping remote controls safe, checking the auto-reverse feature often, and taking care of the garage door hardware.
We at Mehr’s Garage Doors know that having a garage door that works is more than just a comfort; it’s also an essential part of safeguarding your home. That’s why we’re dedicated to giving people in St. George, Utah, and the nearby places the best garage door services possible.
Do not hesitate to call Mehr’s Garage Doors if you need help installing, repairing, or maintaining your garage door safety sensors or have any questions. As you close each garage door, we’ll help you make your home safer and more protected.
Remember that investing in garage door safety is investing in the safety of your family and home. A safe and reliable garage door system will give you peace of mind. To get that peace of mind, follow the tips and advice in this guide and work with a reputable garage door service company annually.
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