|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Over the past twenty years, the American garage has undergone a considerable number of changes. Whether it houses the family car, serves as a work room or craft corner, or offers extra space for entertaining and recreation, the garage has been adapted to serve as an extension of the home. In fact, according to 2009 NAHB Housing Facts, Figures and Trends, more than 70 percent of homeowners utilize the garage door as the main entryway into their home.
With the evolution of the American garage came the development of the automatic garage door opener. Once a luxury, the garage door opener has become a true necessity -- operating in more than 35 million households across the country and relied upon to open and close the largest and heaviest moving object in the home. As garage door openers made their way into American homes, laws were enacted to ensure the safety of those using them. For example, legislation was passed requiring all new garage door openers manufactured after 1992 to possess added safety features. This law mandated that all garage door openers be manufactured and sold with an external protection system otherwise known as infrared sensors or "photo eyes."
Since well-made garage door openers can often have a lifespan beyond ten or more years, manufacturers, such as The Chamberlain Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of garage door openers, encourage homeowners to take a moment to research when their own garage door openers were manufactured to make sure they are equipped with the most up-to-date safety features.
Sally Anderson, The Chamberlain Group vice president of marketing
communications and customer advocacy, notes, "If your garage door opener dates back before 1993, it is a good idea to check to see if it is outfitted with photo eyes." If not, Anderson strongly encourages homeowners to replace the garage door opener with a newer unit that is equipped with the newest, federally mandated safety features available. Anderson continues, "After all, this can be the first and most important step to making your garage a more safe and reliable entryway."
Garage door openers made prior to 1993 came equipped with force-sensing safety systems that would only reverse the door after having made contact with the object in the door's path. These older models are safe and reliable if installed, tested and maintained properly. However, the vast majority of these older units are not equipped with "photo eyes" which trigger the garage door to stop before making contact and then reverse from closing when an obstruction, such as a bike, child or pet, is sensed in the opening.
After replacing an older unit with a new, safer model, Chamberlain also suggests that homeowners continue to make safety a priority by testing their opener's safety reverse mechanism monthly. Homeowners can do this by placing a piece of wood or a roll of paper towels in the path of the door before closing it. If the garage door does not automatically reverse and retract back to the open position, then the door needs to be adjusted.
Ahead of the curve, and with consumer safety as the driving force for engineering safe, quality and reliable products, all LiftMaster® and Chamberlain® brand garage door openers include The Protector System® safety sensors as its external protection system. This system of safety sensors projects an invisible light beam across the garage door opening and automatically reverses the door if anything interrupts the beam while the door is going down. As an additional warning to homeowners, the opener light turns on automatically when The Protector System's infrared beam is broken.
Handy homeowners can make replacing their garage door openers a do-it-yourself project, while others may prefer professional installation. To learn more about the products you can install yourself, visit www.chamberlain.com or most major home improvement retailers. To get a professional opinion or find a dealer in your area, visit www.liftmaster.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|