Garage Door Sensors - The Importance of these Critical Safety Devices

It is an unfortunate reality that every year thousandsand potentially causing serious or even fatal injuries.
of people are injured by their garage doors.  Most ofProper installation of Garage Door Sensors
these injuries are due to the garage door falling on orToday's garage door openers all come with some
crushing the person, and sadly, in a majority of cases,form of garage door safety sensor built in to the
it is a child who is most likely to be hurt.  This is whysystem.  Details for proper installation of
it is so critically important to install a high qualitythese sensors are included in the overall installation
garage door safety sensor on every garage doorinstructions for the opener itself.  Most experts
you own.strongly recommend you hire a professional to install
A vital Safety Featurea garage door opener and the included garage door
Why are garage door sensors considered such vitalsensors because of their vital safety function.  If
safety features?  Put simply, it's because they saveyou choose to do it yourself, however, here are a
lives and prevent serious injuries.  A garage doorfew things to keep in mind:
safety sensor does not replace proper safety habits,- Line up the two modules directly across from each
but it does help ensure your safety when theother and secure them firmly to the garage door
unexpected happens.track
Garage door sensors generally include two modules- Connect the garage door sensors to the garage
placed on either side of the garage door opening,door opener motor using the included wiring or other
usually toward the bottom of the track.  Oneconnection device
module emits a light beam or an electronic signal,- Test the garage door sensors several time to
while the other module receives the light beam orensure they are working properly and that they halt
electronic signal.  As long as that beam or signalthe progress of the garage door as quickly as
remains uninterrupted the garage door opener willpossible
continue to operate and lower the door into place. Remember, garage door sensors are vital pieces of
But if that beam or signal is interrupted, such as by asafety equipment so read and follow all directions
child walking under the closing door, the garage doorcarefully if you plan to install them yourself.  If you
opener will stop immediately and reverse itself, raisinghave any concerns or are worried you might not be
the door back into the full open position.  Thisable to handle the installation yourself, it is well worth
prevents the door from crushing or pinning the childspending a bit of money to have a professional do it
(or whatever else is breaking the beam) underneathfor you.