check Your Garage Door Safety Switch
You should check your overhead door safety switch at least once a month in your garage. This will help ensure that it is working properly and that there are no potential safety hazards.
Most Manufacturers also recommend testing the garage door safety switch once a month. Doors can have an eye beam system, a pressure switch or both. You will need to refer to your garage door opener owner’s manual for instructions on how to test your specific system.
If you have an automatic garage door opener with an external entrapment protection device (EPD), you should also check this monthly. The EPD is a safety device that prevents the garage door from closing if there is something in the way.
How to test
To test your garage door safety switch:
1. Place a piece of wood or an other object in the path of the garage door.
2. Activate the garage door opener.
3. The garage door should stop and reverse when it comes in contact with the object.
4. If the garage door does not stop and reverse, then the safety switch is not working properly and should be replaced.
5. Remove the object from the path of the door and close the door manually.
6. If you have an EPD, repeat step 1 with the EPD in place of the safety switch. The garage door should not close when the EPD is in place.
If you find that your safety switch needs to be replaced, contact a professional garage door repair company for assistance. Trying to replace the safety switch yourself can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing.
Learn more about garage door safety
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