Garage door safety is a major part of home security and is an accident-prevention feature. Some individuals tend to think that injuries and fatalities from garage doors may not be probable, but the reality is that the lack of proper maintenance and the absence of safety features can result in grave injuries or even death. Here is where the sensors on the garage doors accomplish the task.
These sensors are specially developed to detect either obstacles or obstructions in the garage doors, which may pose a high risk of injuring individuals. In this article we are going to examine the impact of garage door safety and why this is a concern for the homeowners and the importance of having garage door sensors installed.
Key Takeaways
- Garage door safeness is vital for avoiding accidents and injuries.
- Sensors for garage doors are these gadgets that detect obstacles and make sure that the door does not shut on them.
- There are two types of garage door sensors: Photoelectric and mechanical translation machines.
- Sensors of garage doors are devices that transmit light beam or create a pressure to detect any obstacle in the way.
- Sensor installation in your garage door can help avoid accidents happening and extend the life of your garage door.
What is meant by the term Garage Door Sensors?
The sensors of garage door are usually installed on one of the edges of the garage door mounting. When these sensors are mounted in the doorway and linked to an automated garage door opener, they will detect any object or obstruction in the pathway of the door’s closing. If the sensors detect the presence of an object, they send a signal to the garage door opener to call for it to forget closing and to change the direction of the process. It ensures the garage door cannot be closed by anyone or anything even if it is a person, a vehicle, or other objects that could be in the path of the door. Sensors are one of the most crucial parts of a garage door as they contribute to the security and safety of the car and its owner.
There are two types of Sensors generally used for Garage Doors
There are two main types of garage door sensors available in the market: This includes photoelectric sensors and pressure sensors.
The light beam that photoelectric sensors emit is in the infrared range. If a moving object in the way, the door becomes inactive and stops the moving. These sensors are simple constellations consisting of a transmitter from one side and a receiver from the other. The transmitter generates an infrared beam of light that sends a signal to the receiver when the beam is interrupted by any object and it results in reversal of the garage door.
The pressure sensors are the sensors whose sensing units are the pressure-sensitive pads or strips, installed in the bottom side edge of the garage door. These pads as well as strips are provided with reactive mechanisms that sense the pressure and transfer a signal to the garage door opener to shut down the closing and even to reverse its direction.
How Garage Door Sensors Work
In simple terms, garage door sensors are devices that detect the presence of objects or persons near to or passing through the entranceways of a garage.
Garage door sensors make use of an obstacle or obstruction detection method which is used for the prevention of the garage door from blocking the way. The sensors will detect when there is an object and they will send a signal to the garage door opener, which will then lead to the door closing and reversing its direction. Thus the garage door will not close on the object which lessens the risk of damaging it or getting injured.
In simple terms, photoelectric sensors work from a transmitter that uses an infrared beam of light to a receiver. These beams are connected with one another and will interrupt with the presence of any obstacle, which will then cause these beams to reverse the garage door. For instance, pressure sensors, exactly as the name suggests, operate by detecting the pressure exerted on them as the object comes in contact with them. When it goes beyond a particular limit, it activates sensor that is connected to the garage door opener and therefore it causes the garage opener to stop closing and reverses its direction.
The Perks of Making Use of the Sensors located on your Garage Doors.
Having a sensor installed on the garage door itself has a lot of advantages to the homeowner. The first purpose of them is the prevention of accidents and injuries. Garage doors are big and could cause serious harm when they get closed on a person or anything.
These sensors in combination with garage door sensors will make sure that the door does not end up on anything or anyone by detecting obstacles in their path and stop closing the door if there is something in it’s way, to prevent unexpected accidents and injuries.
Sensors in garage doors not only save people but also protect their property. The item in the path of closing garage door (car or any other valuable ) can be cracked into pieces. A good sensor, in this case, is the one that stops the door from closing upon these objects and thus avoids any costly property damage on the part of the homeowner.
Lastly, intelligent garage door sensors prevent home break-ins. They become another level of shields for anyone who tries to gain access to the home via the garage door. For instance, if a person pushes the closing door to get inside the garage, the sensors will detect their presence and the door would be stopped from closing, giving the homeowner some warning about the breaking-in.
Signal that cannot be ignored: Installing the sensor.
In addition, multiple indicators are there to suggest that may it is high time you should have the garage door sensors installed. A sign of a faulty garage opener is one scenario. When your garage door opener no longer works or just fails to obey remote commands, it may be an indication that the sensors are malfunctioning. Also, a sign may be a jammed garage door that does not stop when it hits an object. One of the best ways to detect that the garage door sensors are faulty is when the door continues to close even when it touches something on its way down.
Types of Sensor Failure and Solutions
Similarly to any other electronic gadgets, modern garage door sensors might develop some issues on a regular basis. For instance, badly aligned sensors may be the major trouble. The sensors have to be properly aligned, if they are not, the objects might not be detected by the sensors of the garage door. To tackle this problem, please try out different orientation. For example, you can set them face to face and keep their height the same.
A frequent complaint is of dirty lenses. Faulty or non-functional sensors could lead to inaccurate object detection. This is because dirty or dust-covered lenses do not perform the function of detecting the objects properly. Here you can solve this problem by use of soft cloth along with a gentle cleaning solution.
Preventive Maintenance for the Garage Door Sensor: Some Tips to Follow
To ensure that your garage door sensors are always in good working condition, it is important to perform regular maintenance. One maintenance tip is to clean the lenses regularly. Dust and dirt can accumulate on the lenses over time, affecting their ability to detect objects accurately. By cleaning the lenses regularly with a soft cloth and a mild cleaning solution, you can ensure that they are always clean and free from obstructions.
Another maintenance tip is to check the alignment of the sensors regularly. Over time, the sensors may become misaligned due to vibrations or other factors. By checking their alignment regularly and adjusting them if necessary, you can ensure that they are always facing each other directly and at the same height.
Safety Measures to Keep in Mind
Besides garage door sensors, homeowners should be aware of other safety measures, such as. One vital point of safety is to prevent children from accessing the garage door opener. Garage door openers may be dangerous if operated by children as they could be unaware of risks involved with garage doors. Through this way, you can avoid accidents and injuries with the opener within your reach.
Another safety feature is to check the garage door safety features regularly. The majority of garage doors are installed with safety mechanisms like the auto-reverse system and photoelectric sensors. It is necessary to keep testing those features to make sure that they are effective. To test the auto-reverse feature, place a small thing like a roll of paper towels in the way of the closing garage door. If the door does not go in the opposite direction and keeps closing the object, it indicates that auto-reverse feature is not working properly and has to be repaired.
Making the right choice for you safety of your garage door.
To conclude, the garage door safety is one of the most important aspects of the home security and the accident prevention. The garage door sensors are indispensable in a situation when the door is not closed on people or objects that could cause injuries or accidents. The installation of garage door sensors can be a way for homeowners to experience various advantages, such as accident prevention, property protection and enhanced home security. It is imperative to pay heed on signals that can signify that you may need garage door sensor and fix any problems or issues immediately. By adhering to our maintenance tips and remaining aware of garage door safety protocols, homeowners can choose the right garage door safety measure for them and be assured that their family members and property are protected.
If you have decided to install the garage door sensors, it is also important to find out about regular maintenance and repairs of your garage door. Easy Garage Door Repair offers professional garage door repair services in Houston Area CALL (832) 570-3845 and we’ll get your sensors up and running.
