Several Reasons Old Garage Doors Pose A Hazard
Older garage doors can indeed pose hazards for the following reasons:
Safety Features: Older garage doors may lack modern safety features such as photoelectric sensors or auto-reverse mechanisms. These features are designed to prevent the door from closing on objects or people, reducing the risk of injury or property damage.
Worn Components: Over time, the components of a garage door, such as springs, cables, and rollers, can wear out or become damaged. This wear and tear can compromise the door’s functionality and increase the likelihood of accidents or malfunctions.
Manual Operation Challenges: Some older garage doors are manually operated, which can be challenging for individuals with mobility issues or physical limitations. Manually lifting a heavy garage door can strain muscles or cause injuries.
Structural Integrity: Older garage doors may suffer from structural issues such as rust, corrosion, or warping. This can weaken the door and make it more susceptible to failure, especially during extreme weather conditions or when subjected to heavy loads.
Lack of Maintenance: If a garage door has not been properly maintained over the years, it may be more prone to sudden failures or breakdowns. Regular maintenance, including lubrication, inspections, and repairs, is essential for keeping garage doors safe and functional.
Due to these potential hazards, homeowners with older garage doors need to have professionals inspect and assess the condition of their doors regularly and consider upgrading to newer models with improved safety features if necessary. Additionally, seeking professional inspection and maintenance services can help ensure that older garage doors remain safe to use.
We replaced this opener recently, a 1980’s vintage Liftmaster 1020C with NO PHOTO EYES! Very risky and unsafe, out of code since the federal and state laws were passed in 1995. Make sure your garage door has photo eyes no more than 6″ above the floor!
One problem is that without photo eyes or other equivalent safety systems, you and your children are at risk if the garage door spring breaks, or if the power goes out and you try to work it by hand, or if you are in the way when the door closes.
All garage doors all need professional maintenance every 3-5 years if not more often. But it seems that garage doors are one of the most neglected products in the home, even though they are the largest and heaviest moving part of most homes. They need lubrication, adjustment and TLC or they can become hazardous.
If your garage door opener does not have photo eyes mounted about 6″ or less from the floor, your garage door is out of code and is probably hazardous. Call Martin today for a tune-up on your garage door! I hope we don’t discover something like the opener shown in this photo in your garage!
PLEASE contact us with a photo if you have an old garage door opener in your garage. We will tell you if it meets the local safety code or not.
The best advice is that when you hear or see an issue with your garage door or opener, call Martin for help!
Article by
Ken Martin – Manager
702-795-1000 – Call Now 24/7
6667 S Schuster StreetLas Vegas, NV 89118
