You likely use your garage door quite often, and if it works properly, you may not give it much thought. However, testing and inspecting it regularly is important for safety purposes. If the heavy door falls, it could cause serious injury, damage your property, or leave you unable to access your home. Overhead Door Co. of Lycoming County, a division of Schrader Architectural Products in Williamsport, PA, explains some tests that will ensure all components are working properly.

What to Test to Ensure Your Garage Door Is Safe

1. Obstruction Sensor

If you look at the bottom corners of your garage door, you’ll notice two sensors. Their purpose is to ensure the garage doesn’t close on anything. A beam of light passes between them, which opens the garage if interrupted. You can easily test these sensors by closing your door and breaking the beam. If the door stops or reverses direction, they’re working fine.

2. Balance

If a garage door is balanced, it will close and open smoothly. However, an out-of-balance door will hang lower on one side than the other when shutting or opening. To test this, disconnect it by pulling the red cord hanging from the opener and hold the door at waist height. If it is balanced, it won’t move; otherwise, it will need an adjustment.

3. Automatic Reverse

Garage doors have an automatic reverse mechanism that causes it to start lifting if it meets a certain amount of resistance. Ensuring this feature is working properly is essential for safety. Otherwise, the system will continue closing, damaging it and potentially injuring you. To test the automatic reversal, put a piece of wood on the ground where the door should close. When the door reaches the wood (i.e., meets resistance), it should start going up again. If not, either the settings need to be adjusted or professional service is required.

If your garage door’s safety mechanisms are not working properly, it could be a danger to you, your vehicle, and your garage doors. Completing these tests regularly will ensure it’s in good working order. If you need a new system, get in touch with the team at Overhead Door Company of Lycoming County. As "The Genuine, the Original Overhead Door Company,” they offer a variety of top-quality products. For more information on their services, call (570) 326-4749 or visit their website.