If your garage door was installed before the year 1993, then you could be breaking the law. Which means you may want to consider calling the Poughkeepsie garage doors to repair or replace the doors and to install the necessary sensors. That’s because in 1993, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) implemented a rule that requires garage owners with automatic door openers to install sensors that recognize if there is a person or object in the way when the door is closing. The rule also states that the door should automatically stop closing and reverse if someone or something is between the sensors. The goal was meant to act as a safety precaution for the protection of small children and pets.
In after the CPSC implemented the new rule, many installation companies failed to meet the requirement. So regardless of how old your garage door is, you should probably check to make sure it meets all legal requirements. In any case, these precautions are not only to prevent legal troubles, but also to protect the vulnerable members of your house. If you have children, or if you ever have guests with children, you’ll want to ensure that the little ones are safe. Here’s how to check.
Step 1:
First check each side of the garage. You should find sensors at a maximum of six inches above the ground. It’s essential that the sensors do not exceed this height because then they may not recognize small objects that are shorter than six inches.
Step 2:
Block one of the sensors with your hand or some kind of an object. Then either you or someone else should press the open/close button. The door should not operate while you are covering the sensor. If it does, then that means you need to repair the mechanism.
Step 3:
Finally, place a small object on the ground between the sensors. The object should be no taller than two or so inches higher and it should be something that you can afford to lose, like a small cardboard box or something to that effect. Test to see if the door operates. What should happen is the door begins to close, then senses the object, stops, and reverses. If this doesn’t happen, it’s time to call the Poughkeepsie garage doors repairs company.
At Hudson Valley Overhead Doors and Operators, we provide more than just garage door sensor installation. Our many years of experience have left us equipped to provide every kind of garage door installation, maintenance and repair services. We do the job right and we do it efficiently. We’ll be in and out, and ensure that everything about your garage doors are of properly high quality and meeting all of the latest legal standards. For more information, give us a call today at 845-876-2772.
