Garage Door Repair Hugo MN › Safety Guide
Garage Door Safety: Tests, Limits and When to Call
A garage door is the heaviest moving object in most homes. This guide covers the monthly reverse test, the balance check, what to do when a spring breaks, what only a technician should touch, and the federal and Minnesota rules for openers.
Monthly checks the CPSC says every 30 days
Reverse test 2 by 4 laid flat
Pro-only parts springs, cables, bottom brackets
Minnesota rule Statute 325F.83
The monthly safety tests
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends inspecting the door and opener every 30 days. DASMA also makes monthly testing a routine.
Chamberlain says the door must reverse on contact with a 1 1/2 inch object, or a 2 by 4 laid flat, and to test monthly and after any adjustment. If it fails, stop using the opener on automatic. See sensor repair and opener repair.
The balance test
Close the door and pull the red release cord with the door closed. Lift the door to about the halfway point and let go. A balanced door stays put. If it drops or shoots up, spring tension needs a technician. Stop if the door is heavy or does not move easily. This test comes from door company guides, not from DASMA, so treat it as industry practice.
If a spring or cable breaks
Signs are a loud bang, an opener that runs while the door stays put, a crooked door, or a door that feels very heavy.
Do
- Keep people, pets and cars clear of the door
- Leave the opener alone
- Call for repair
Do not
- Pull the release cord with the door open
- Try to lift a door that will not stay up
- Attempt spring or cable work yourself
Sources disagree on lifting a door by hand after a spring breaks. The cautious answer is to stop and call. See spring repair and cable repair.
What homeowners can do and what to leave alone
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Reverse, beam and balance tests | Homeowner |
| Cleaning tracks and the seal | Homeowner |
| Lubricating hinges and metal rollers | Homeowner |
| Replacing springs | Trained technician (DASMA) |
| Replacing or adjusting cables | Trained technician (DASMA) |
| Adjusting bottom brackets | Trained technician (DASMA) |
| A door off track | Technician |
| An opener that will not reverse | Technician |
DASMA says bottom brackets are under extreme tension and should only be adjusted or loosened by a trained technician. See DIY garage door repair: what is safe and what needs a pro for the full list with sources.
Children and pinch points
The CPSC says to keep remotes away from children, and DASMA says never place fingers between door sections and to use handles or safe gripping points. Children who play under a closing door can be trapped. This page states no injury numbers because the figures found conflict.
Federal and Minnesota rules for openers
The CPSC rule covers openers made on or after January 1, 1993, and requires an external sensor or a constant-contact button. Under 16 CFR 1211, if the sensor is disconnected or faulty, the operator must not close the door on automatic. Minnesota Statute 325F.83 requires a technician who services an opener to test the auto-reverse on site. If it fails, the technician must attach a red warning label and tell the homeowner within 10 working days. Check the label on an older opener for its manufacture date.
The CPSC also says never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the door open.
Garage door safety questions
How often should I test the safety features?
Monthly, and after any adjustment.
What if the door does not reverse?
Stop using the opener on automatic and have it checked.
Why does my door reverse when nothing is in the way?
Often a sensor is dirty or out of line. See the sensor repair page.
Can I adjust the reverse setting myself?
A wrong setting defeats the safety feature, so have a technician check it if it fails.
Can I open the door if a spring is broken?
Sources disagree. The cautious answer is to stop and call.
Call about a garage door safety problem
Describe what the door is doing, when it started and what you have already tried.
What to have ready
- Your address and the nearest cross street
- What the door is doing, and any bangs or smells
- Door material and approximate age, if you know
- Photos of the broken part, if you can