How to Test Your Garage Door’s Reversing Mechanism

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Garage doors are one of the biggest safety hazards in your home. Because of their massive weight, the chances of getting an injury from a garage door crushing are very real. For this reason, openers made after 1993 need to have a reversing mechanism and photo eye sensors so that the owner doesn’t get trapped under the door. The reversing mechanism “sees” when there is an object in the path of the garage door. It stops the garage door and then reverses its path. These features protect you, your family, and your vehicle from damage and injuries.

Why You Should Test the Reversing Mechanism

Even after the 1993 regulations, homeowners all across the country have reported over 20,000 injuries related to garage doors every year. These safety features make many of these injuries preventable. However, you can only prevent this type of injury if your garage door’s safety features get configured correctly. To ensure that this feature works as it should, you will need to test it on a regular basis. If your home garage door opener does not have a reversing mechanism, you should call technicians trained in Henderson garage repair to replace this piece of equipment.

How to Test Your Garage Door’s Reversing Mechanism

To test out your garage door’s reversing mechanism, place a heavy object on the ground in the path of your garage’s door as close to the center of the door’s opening so that you can avoid issues with balance.

What Should Happen After the Test

When you press the opener’s button or transmitter to close your garage door, it should hit the object and immediately reverse its path. If you find that this doesn’t happen, you will need to have your garage door opener worked on by a garage repair professional.