Your garage door opener has safety features built in specifically to prevent the door from closing on a person, pet, or object. These features can save lives – but only if they are working correctly. Since 1993, federal law has required all garage door openers to include automatic reversal systems, and testing them takes about two minutes. Most homeowners have never done it. Here is what the systems do, how to test them, and what to do if they fail.
The Two Auto-Reverse Systems Every Modern Opener Has
Current garage door openers use two independent safety mechanisms that work together:
Photo-eye sensors: Two sensors mounted near the floor on either side of the door create an invisible infrared beam across the opening. If anything breaks that beam while the door is closing – a child, a pet, a bicycle – the door immediately reverses to the open position. These sensors were required on all new openers sold after January 1, 1993. If your opener predates that requirement, it needs to be replaced.
Pressure/force reversal: The opener’s motor continuously monitors resistance as the door travels down. If it encounters an obstruction – something the beam does not catch because it is below the beam line, or a scenario where the door is already in contact with an object – it detects the resistance and reverses. This system operates independently of the photo-eye sensors.
Both systems need to be tested and both need to pass. A door that reverses on the photo-eye test but not the pressure test (or vice versa) is not fully safe.
How to Test the Photo-Eye Sensors
Start the door closing from fully open. While it is moving down, wave your foot or an object through the beam path near the floor – you do not need to stand under the door. The door should immediately stop and reverse to the open position. If it does not, the sensors need to be inspected and likely realigned or replaced.
Also check the sensor indicator lights. On most systems, the sending sensor (usually yellow) and the receiving sensor (usually green) should both show solid lights when properly aligned. A blinking or dim light on the receiving sensor means it is not receiving the beam cleanly, which means the safety circuit is not intact. Loosen the mounting bracket on the receiving sensor and adjust it until both lights are solid, then retighten and retest.
How to Test the Pressure Reversal
The standard test uses a 2×4 piece of lumber laid flat on the floor in the path of the door. Close the door. When the door contacts the board, it should immediately reverse without significant force. The door should not press down hard enough to noticeably compress or move the board before reversing.
An alternative test: place a roll of paper towels (still in its wrapper) on the floor under the door. If the door closes on it and the cardboard tube inside bends or deforms before the door reverses, the reversal force is set too high. The door is exerting more force than it should before triggering the safety mechanism.
If the door does not reverse on contact, or reverses only after significant force, the sensitivity setting on the opener needs adjustment. Most openers have a force adjustment dial or screw – consult your manual for the location and adjustment procedure. If adjusting the force setting does not resolve it, the opener may need professional service.
How Often Should You Test?
The International Door Association recommends testing both reversal systems monthly. In practice, testing once or twice a year – along with your other seasonal maintenance – is a meaningful improvement over never testing. Add it to the same checklist as replacing smoke detector batteries.
What to Do If Your Opener Fails the Test
Do not continue using a door whose safety reversal is not working correctly. This is particularly important in homes with children or pets. First, try adjusting the force settings per your opener manual. If adjustment does not resolve it, or if the sensors cannot be realigned to produce solid indicator lights, have the system serviced by a professional.
Openers manufactured before 1993 that do not have photo-eye sensors should be replaced entirely – they do not meet current safety standards and cannot be retrofitted in a cost-effective way. Modern openers are significantly safer, quieter, and more reliable than units from that era.
Garage Door Opener Service in Tulsa and OKC
Discount Garage Door installs and services garage door openers throughout the Tulsa metro and Oklahoma City area. If your opener fails the reversal test, is more than 15 years old, or has been behaving inconsistently, give us a call or request a free quote online.
Get a free quote online or call your nearest location:
- Tulsa: 918-234-3667
- Oklahoma City: 405-525-3667
- Edmond: 405-348-2000
- South OKC: 405-848-6700
Related: Garage Door Opener Repair and Installation | Garage Door Repair | Preparing the Garage for an Emergency
