When picking out a new home or renovating an old one it’s important to make sure your garage door motor is in good condition. This motor is responsible for lifting and lowering the garage door. Failure to keep it in good operating condition may result in an accident. Luckily servicing the unit is very simple, and requires you to do very little except inspect it for damage.
Most people assume that the garage door motor does the actual lifting for the entire door. This is not the case as most typical electronic motors just give the start stopping signal and basic lift power to a set of high tension springs. These springs are the actual power behind the door and provide most of the lifting force. It’s important to inspect these springs on a regular basis in order to ensure proper door operation.
Another part of the garage door motor that many do not think about is the emergency reverse springs. Since garage doors can accidentally crush people so easily it was mandated that all models institute a reverse system. This system sets the motor in reverse and activates the springs in the event that the door closes on something other than level ground. Inspection and maintenance of these springs is of paramount importance and should never be neglected.
Since the mid 1980′s all garage doors have been required to have an emergency release system that disconnects them from the motor in the event of entrapment. It’s important for all homeowners to be familiar with this procedure should they ever need to use it. If you are unfamiliar with it then you should read the manual that came with the garage door motor. If you do not have a manual then you can get the name off of the motor, and call the parent company.
Garage door motors come in various shapes and sizes to power various door types. Even though they do not provide as much muscle as previously thought there are still size requirements for the types of doors they can handle. Smaller motors will be unable to lift larger doors properly, and larger motors might break smaller doors. Various accessories have also evolved for garage doors over the years.
You have wireless remotes for easy opening, keypads for security reasons, and the ability to shut it down for extended periods of time when you leave your home. Safety has also improved dramatically since the mid 80′s. In 1993 it was made into law that all garage doors have two sensors projecting a beam to each other near the entrance of the door. If this beam is broken the door is stopped and returned to the full open position.
Many people were skeptical of the garage door motor when it was introduced over 80 years ago, but it’s become standard in almost every home to date. They have become very easy to use, and very safe. The commonplace horror movie scene that runs through a persons mind about being crushed is not possible anymore. The technology has advanced, and has become very safe for use in homes. Although common sense still dictates that you should never let your children play around the door, or the motor.
