Garage Door Opener
- Reversal Test
- Force Setting Test
- Additional Safety
Devices
|
|
|
|
|
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"x4" laid
flat) on the flooring 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 have reverse, have it repaired or replaced. Have a
qualified individual adjust, repair or replace the opener or door. |
|
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 owners manual for
details on how to make the adjustment. Test the reversing feature after
any adjustment. |
Additional Safety Devices
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 prevent against entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety
devices will not make an old opener meet current U.L. standards. |
|
 |
Make sure the additional safety devices, such as
photoeyes or edge sensors, are properly installed and adjusted
(see owner's manual). |
|
Garage Door
- Visual Inspection -
Springs, Rollers, Pulleys, Cables and Track
- Lubrication
- Door Balance
|
Testing and Maintaining the Garage Door
Perform routine maintenance steps once a month. Review your owner's
manual for the garage door. If you don't have a manual, look for the
model number on the back of the door, or check the lock handle, hinges,
or other hardware for the manufacturer's name and request a manual from
the manufacturer. |
| |
|
|
|
Visual Inspection
Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and other
door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems, have a
qualified person make repairs. |
Warning - Springs are under high tension. Only qualified
persons should adjust them. Garage door springs, cables, brackets, and
other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and,
if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified
professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following
the manufacturer's instructions should adjust them. The torsion springs
(the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional.
Do not attempt to repair or adjust the torsion springs yourself. |
 |

A restraining cable or other device should be
installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the
door) to help contain the spring if it breaks. |
|
Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the
bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring
by the lift cable and are under extreme tension.
|
Lubrication
Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. However, do not
lubricate plastic parts such as plastic rollers and plastic idler
bearings. Consult the door owner's manual for the manufacturer's
recommendation. |
   |
Door Balance
Periodically test the balance of your door.

|
• |
Start
with the door closed |
|
• |
If you
have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism so you can operate the
door by hand when doing this test |
| • |
You
should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little resistance. It
should stay open around three or four feet above the floor.
If it does not, it is out of adjustment. Have it adjusted by a qualified
service person. |
|