Garage doors offer convenience and security at home. Familiarity with safety elements and their usage is vital for homeowners to ensure their well-being and minimize risks. Here are essential garage door safety features.
Auto-Reverse Function
The auto-reverse function in garage door openers prevents accidents and ensures the safety of people, pets, and objects underneath the closing garage door. Regularly testing the auto-reverse function is a good practice to ensure it works correctly. Close the garage door using the remote control or wall button to test the auto-reverse function.
Place a solid object, such as a pillow or book, on the ground where the garage door touches when closed. Activate the garage door to close. As the door comes into contact with the object, it should automatically stop and reverse direction. If the door doesn’t stop and reverse when it comes into contact with the object, address this issue promptly.
Photoelectric Eyes
The photoelectric eyes consist of two components: a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter emits an infrared light beam toward the receiver on the opposite side. When the garage door closes, if something or someone obstructs the beam of light, such as a person, a pet, or an object, the sensors pick up the blockage and direct the garage door opener to stop immediately. This prevents the door from closing on anything in its path, potentially causing injury or damage.
Photoelectric eyes have become a standard safety feature in modern garage door systems and are required by various safety regulations and codes.
Rolling Code Technology
In older garage door openers, a fixed code was used to communicate between the remote control and the door opener. This fixed code could be intercepted by malicious individuals using specialized devices, allowing them to capture the code and replicate it later to gain unauthorized access to the garage.
Rolling code technology, or hopping or dynamic code, addresses this vulnerability by generating a new, unique code every time the garage door is operated. The remote control and the garage door opener are synchronized to both know the current code in the sequence. After each use, the code advances to the next one in the sequence. This makes it extremely difficult for potential attackers to predict or intercept the next code, as it changes with each operation.
Manual Control
During a power outage, the garage door opener’s electronic motor won’t work. With the manual control feature, you can still open and close the garage door manually, allowing you to continue using your vehicle or accessing items stored in the garage.
In mechanical failures or malfunctions with the automatic garage door opener, having manual control allows you to bypass the electronic system and operate the door manually. This can be particularly useful when you need to address technical issues.
When performing maintenance or repairs on the garage door or opener system, using the manual control feature can make it easier to work on the door without interference from the motor. This is especially important for ensuring that repairs are carried out effectively and safely.
In security concerns, such as hacking or other vulnerabilities in the electronic system, manual control provides an alternative way to secure your garage and home. This added layer of security ensures that you’re not solely reliant on electronic access.
Homeowners should take the time to familiarize themselves with the manual control feature and locate it on their garage door system. Regular testing and maintenance of the manual operation can ensure that it remains functional and ready for use when needed.
Raynor Door Company offers professional installation services for residential and commercial garage doors. When garage doors encounter issues or malfunctions, your team is equipped to provide repair services. Contact us now to get started.