Garage doors and automatic openers are dangerous devices. Approximately 20,000 injuries and a few deaths, usually to small children, occur each year from these machines. Because of these inherent dangers various safety mechanisms have been incorporated into the automatic openers.
The most visible and the one most everyone is familiar with is the sensor eye. It simply works by shooting a beam of light between the two sensors. When the door is in motion and the beam is broken by say a child, the door automatically reverses.
The position of installation is therefore vitally important to this safety mechanism working properly and protecting people from injury. The sensor should be installed no more than six inches from the ground next to the base of the door track.
The installer of the sensor in the first photo must have not read the manual or he thought the residents were very tall. This is located about four feet above the ground. Funny thing was the installer left his company information on the wall in case the owner needed service.
The second photo, which coincidently was taken the following day, is of another improper installation technique. That's the two sensor eyes stuffed into a gap along the garage attic stairway framing. Can you imagine if a bug or mouse gets in between them? You would then not be able to operate the door. But the most obvious problem is this safety device has been render useless.
There were young children living in this home.
You can read more about garage door safety here.
Take a look at the sensor eyes installed in your garage. If they are high, call a professional and have them lowered to the correct and safe height.
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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