It was much easier to experience injuries before the era of garage door safety sensors. Kids, pets, and property were often trapped as this heavy product came down to secure the home. Although about 2,200 people are still injured when a garage door falls on them each year in the United States, that figure is significantly lower than it used to be.
Modern building codes often require an injury and damage prevention system to be installed on new garage doors. It is essential to keep garage door safety sensors in good working order to ensure your home receives these benefits.
List of the Advantages Garage Door Safety Sensors Offer
Federal Law UL 325 requires every garage door to include safety mechanisms in the United States. Although multiple options qualify under this statute, garage door sensors are the most common option used. [[1]] That’s because those safety sensors provide these unique benefits.
1. They Sense Obstructions
When garage door safety sensors work correctly, they sense any obstruction. This discovery causes the door to stop closing and reverses the action. It’s the easiest way to detect pets, kids, or anything else that could be in the way. To ensure safe operations, you don’t need to worry about someone being by the command button or remote. [[2]]
2. Add Value or Equity
People want homes with modern conveniences. An older garage door might be grandfathered into the building code, but does the owner wish to operate it each time manually? Safety sensors add value to the property because it delivers a highly desirable feature when it’s time to sell. Some communities might even require investing in this upgrade as part of the sales process. [[3]]
3. Easy to Maintain
Garage door safety sensors require minimal maintenance. If you keep the photo-eye clear of dust and debris, it almost always works as expected. It helps to inspect your equipment monthly to ensure there aren’t any pinched wires or an accidental misalignment. Most units have an indicator that communicates a problem that exists with the system. [[4]]
4. Independent System
If you decide that you’d like to upgrade your garage doors one day, your safety sensors can continue providing support at home. This equipment is an independent system that professional installers can connect to your new product. It can be installed whether you decide to keep your old doors or invest in something new.
5. Less Wear and Tear
Manual garage doors can experience significant wear and tear during operation because of how the design works. If you smash the door into the ground while closing it, issues with the rails, rollers, or springs can occur. You can even cause dents or cracks in the door itself. With an automatic system installed that includes safety sensors, the unit works at a more consistent speed. [[5]]
Safety sensors are an essential component of home safety today. If your installation is from before 1993, it might be time to consider upgrading to this equipment or investing in new garage doors.
[[1]] UL 325 Voted Top Story of the Decade | DASMA
[[2]] How do garage door safety sensors work – Sensors-Technology
[[3]] Homeowner dilemma: What to do with that old garage door? – Movement Mortgage Blog
[[4]] How To Troubleshoot Garage Door Sensors – Everyday Home Repairs
[[5]] RichCatalog.com | How to prevent wear and tear of garage doors