Maintenance Tips

There are routine safety and maintenance steps that you should follow once a month.  Review your owner’s manual for the door opener.  If you don’t have the owner’s manual, look for the opener model number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.

Garage Door Opener Reversal Test

Make sure your opener has a reversing feature.  If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced.  Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards.  Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information.

Test the reversing feature every month.

First, test the balance of the door (see “Testing and Maintaining The Garage Door”).  If the door is properly balanced, then proceed.

With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2″ thick piece of wood (a 2″x 4″ laid flat) on the floor in the center of the door.  Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door.  The door must reverse when it strikes the wood.  (Note that the bottom part of “one piece doors” must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.)  If the door does not reverse, have it repaired or replaced.  Have a qualified individual adjust, repair or replace the opener or door.

Garage Door Opener Force Setting Test

Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes.  If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive and need adjusting.  See your owner’s manual for details on how to make the adjustment.  Test the reversing feature after any adjustment.

Additional Safety Devices for Garage Door Openers

Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety devices.  Consider adding a photo eye or edge sensor as an extra measure of safety to protect against entrapment.  Keep in mind that adding more safety devices will not make an old opener meet the current U.L. standards.

Make sure the additional safety devices, such as photo eyes or edge sensors, are properly installed and adjusted (see owners’ manual).

Garage Door Openers

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