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An 8-ft Tall Child, Dog or Cat? (A Home Inspection Blog)

By
Home Inspector with Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

I love to laugh and my job as a home inspector provides many opportunities for this.  Last week I came across this in a garage.

laser sensors

If you look above the spring you'll see the laser sensors for the garage door.  I wrote about laser sensors in The Eye of the Tiger.  The laser sensors cannot be any more than 6-inches above the floor for child and pet safety.  I even had a friend of a client once tell me she knew someone's child who was killed by a garage door, so it's a very serious safety issue.

So back to the story.  Here's a close up of the laser sensors above the garage door springs.

laser sensors2

At first, this is hilarious.  Maybe the contractor comes from a line of 8-ft tall kids or maybe he had an 8-ft tall cat or dog growing up.  Because that's about how tall someone would have to be for those laser sensors to trip.  But then the laughter fades and you realize how completely ignorant and foolish the person was who installed those.  I think of the story I related earlier where a child was killed by a Garage door.  It's not much of a laughing matter.

So please check your garage door laser sensor eyes and confrim they're about 4-6 inches above the floor (not the ceiling).

I hope this gives you a little more information about a home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.

 

 

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

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Comments (17)

Rob Muller
ReMax Town & Country - Canton, GA
Cherokee County Real Estate
I can only imagine the things you see!
Apr 22, 2008 05:36 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

That is very scary indeed.  Thanks for the information.  I don't even have an automatic garage door, but it's good to know if I do get one! 

Apr 22, 2008 05:36 AM
Rob Muller
ReMax Town & Country - Canton, GA
Cherokee County Real Estate
I can only imagine the things you see!
Apr 22, 2008 05:36 AM
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Home Inspector, Southern California

Rob, there's never a dull day.

Chris, I'm glad you found the info useful.

Apr 22, 2008 06:07 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector
Joseph, do you think the installer though they said no more than 6" apart?
Apr 22, 2008 09:50 AM
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Home Inspector, Southern California
Charles, you have to wonder just what the installer thought the puprose of the laser sensors was?
Apr 22, 2008 10:34 AM
David Holden
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit County Home Inspector - Akron, OH
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit
Looks like a completly new install as well.  The installer needs called out on the carpet for this one!  Or, home owner installed I wonder?
Apr 22, 2008 02:20 PM
Frank Peters
The Home Consultant - Inspection Services - Champaign, IL

On a number of occasions, I have found them hidden in attics.

Frank Peters
The Home Consultant - Inspection Services
Champaign, Illinois
www.homeconsultantservices.com

 

 

 

Apr 23, 2008 01:37 AM
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Home Inspector, Southern California

David, I'm not sure, it was a foreclosure.

Frank, wow, hidden in attics, I've never seen that.  What will they come up with next?

Apr 23, 2008 02:15 AM
Lynnette Phillips Real Estate Consultant
Yucaipa, CA
Joseph, I always learn something your posts...I'd have trouble laughing at this though.
Apr 23, 2008 07:05 AM
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Home Inspector, Southern California
Lynette, I'm glad you find my posts informational.  Thanks for stopping by.
Apr 23, 2008 08:42 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
'Just want to let you know that I highlighted this post on my "outside" blog, Focus On Crofton.  I could have used any of your posts - they're all interesting and helpful!
May 01, 2008 10:37 PM
Rob Kleinschmidt
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspections - Lake Geneva, WI

What I want to know is- did you still test them?  And how?

May 05, 2008 02:40 PM
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Home Inspector, Southern California

Margaret, thank you so much, I'm flattered.

Rob, no I didn't.  It was so silly I didn't even think about trying to test them.

May 09, 2008 10:33 AM
Jacques Mountain
Dream Home Inspections/203K Consultant - Fayetteville, GA
Inspector/203K Consultant

That's Creative!

 

Sep 11, 2008 03:59 PM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

It could have been for very tall hats, birds flying in the garage or squirrels hanging from the floor joist.  Just a thought.  Never seen one like that.

Sep 12, 2008 05:03 AM
Mike (Inspector Mike) Parks
Inspector Mike - Circleville, OH
Inspector Mike

I was not going to comment but since no one knows what this installation is I will do so now.

Those are 'bat' sensors. Depending on where you live they may be required by code.

Sep 14, 2008 10:00 AM