Modern homes have advanced, motorized garage doors that are easy to access for homeowners. With just one click, homeowners can enter or exit their garage. However, these doors raise safety concerns for families when it comes to their children and pets. This is why an automated garage door should have a garage door safety sensor.
These sensors detect obstacles in your door’s path and signal the opener to stop or reverse the door’s movement before it causes any harm. In this blog, we learn how safety sensors for garage doors work and why they are important. So, let’s begin!
What Is a Garage Door Safety Sensor?
A garage door sensor is a small device that prevents accidents by detecting obstacles in the door. These safety sensors are mounted on the door tracks or wall brackets 4–6 inches above the floor. Safety sensors are a part of the garage door opening system. This makes sure that the door only closes when the path is clear. Moreover, if something or someone is blocking the path, the sensors send a signal to the door opener to reverse the movement.
Types of Safety Sensors
A garage door safety sensor comes in different types. The most common types include:
- Infrared Sensors: These sensors are widely used in residential garage doors. An invisible beam of light is placed between the two units to detect objects or persons between the doors.
- Pressure Sensors: They are installed at the bottom edge of the garage door and trigger a signal when the door touches an object. These are found on older residential models or commercial doors.
How Do Garage Door Safety Sensors Work?
Here is how a garage door safety sensor works:
Infrared Beam Transmission:
One sensor will act as a transmitter, which sends an infrared beam across the garage door width. The second sensor will receive the beam to create a safety line.
Signal Monitoring:
When the beam remains uninterrupted, the sensors will signal the garage door to open and close safely.
Obstacle Detection:
The safety sensors will immediately halt the movement of the door when the beam detects a person or an object.
Automatic Response:
Once the beam breaks, the sensors will signal the garage door opening system to stop or reverse the movement, preventing accidents.
Safety Confirmation:
When the obstacle moves away from the door’s path, the beam returns and allows the door to safely continue its movement.
Final Thoughts
Garage door safety sensors are a small but important part of your garage door opening system. These sensors make sure your door operates safely. If you ever notice your garage door behaving unusually, it might be a sign that safety sensors need adjustment.
For garage door installation and repair services, contact Cypress Garage and Gates. We can offer you a reliable garage door system that stays functional for years to come. Call us now at (832) 349-2189 to schedule our services!