An automatic garage door opener is a common feature in many homes, but the convenience offered must be weighed against the possible safety hazards. The opener is connected to a door that may weight several hundred pounds and closes with substantial force. It is the force of this weight that has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths over the years.
Young children are especially vulnerable to inadvertent contact and entrapment.
Consideration To help address the safety concern, new door openers are now provided with several safety features. These include a control that will automatically stop and retract the door if it hits on an obstruction, a pressure-sensitive stop or electronic eye that will also stop the door's forward motion if it contacts something or an object crosses the beam, and a manual release control to disengage the opener in an emergency. The HouseMaster Technical Staff recommends that all garage door openers be checked on a regular basis following the manufacturer's recommendations. If the door opener does not function properly, it should be disabled and serviced. Each HouseMaster office is independently owned and operated.