Time to Maintain Your Automatic Garage Door Opener and Check Its Safety

You’re moving into a new place—maybe it’s your forever home or a stop on your home-owning journey.

Either way, your new place has a nice garage with an electric garage door opener. Congratulations!

A picture of 2 single garage doors in Classic CC design, 9' x 7', Ice White color, 4 lite Orion windows

What a great 2-door garage! If you’re thinking of replacing your garage doors and like the timeless beauty of Traditional look, these garage doors are Classic CC design, in 1-car size, Ice White color, and with 4 lite Orion windows

Or maybe you’re already in your forever home, but you’ve realized that you’ve not checked on your garage in… a while.

Maybe you watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix, and you used the KonMari Method to clean your garage.

Whatever your reasoning, it’s time for us to talk about electric garage doors.

HOLD ON! STOP!

Picture of warning sign

Before we go any further, make sure to check out this blog that could literally save your life!

Step 1- When was your door opener made?

An example of a garage door label and where it can be found on different garage door opener models

Here are the main models of LiftMaster garage door openers with their sticker locations and the information you can find on it.

Somewhere on your garage door opener, you should be able to find a sticker. This sticker should have a lot of important information written on it like the model and serial numbers.

This information is good to have on hand, but it’s even better to have if you decide to call your local garage door specialist.

Once you’ve found the manufacturing date (also called the MFG date) on the sticker, you’ll now have the information for when your garage door opener was made.

Quick note: if your garage door opener is a Chamberlain, but not a LiftMaster model, check out this FAQ before proceeding.

Was Your Garage Door Device Made Before 1993?

Yikes! If your garage door opener was made before 1993, it’s time to throw the whole thing out!

Trust us—it’s for your own safety!

Why is 1993 important?

In 1993, the method for producing garage door openers changed and became safer. Two reversal systems were included in all garage door openers produced after this time in the US and Canada—all to help protect your life.

  • 1) Mechanical: if the bottom of a closing garage door hits anything, the motor in the garage immediately stops and starts opening.
  • 2) Photoelectric: on either side of the garage door, two units are installed. One is an emitter, and one is a receiver. The emitter throws out an infrared beam and the receiver receives it. However, if anything crosses through that beam while the garage is closing, the garage door will stop and immediately start to open instead.

If those clear safety upgrades haven’t yet convinced you, learn more about them. Look into photocell safety beams and which urban legend about planes opening garage doors has been proven to be true.

Was Your Garage Door Made Between 1993 and 2012?

You’re still not in the clear yet, sorry!

Back in 2012, Chamberlain’s garage door ensured that all of their garage door openers were installed with Security+2.0. Security+2.0 is a rolling code technology that increases the safety of your garage door and home.

Around 2012, Chamberlain and LiftMaster both discovered that people were driving around rich neighborhoods and trying out different garage door remotes on any garage door they passed. They were able to open a lot of them and steal items because the garage doors all used the same opener code.

The upgrade with the rolling code technology prevents this from happening. The rolling code technology means that a new security code is created between the garage door and the garage door opener every time the button is pressed.

The Security+2.0 label

Want to make sure your garage door opener has rolling code technology? Look for the Security+2.0 label on your Chamberlain, LiftMaster, or Craftsman garage door opener.

When you press the button on the remote, it activates the garage door opener. At the same time, a unique algorithm "rolls" a code, choosing from more than 100 billion possible codes.

At this time, the previous code is removed, and the door and opener will now only respond to the new, current code.

Also, the same code is only ever used once, which means that people can’t still codes and use them to burgle your house.

Assuming you’ve made it this far, that means your garage door opener is up to snuff when it comes to security.

Now for the actual checkup.

Step 2- Test the Garage Door Reverse System

  • Grab a board of wood (perhaps a 2x4) and set it on the ground in the path of where the garage door will close.
  • Close the garage door.
  • Did the garage door reopen when it hit the board? Great! If it didn’t, your garage is unsafe. Contact our garage door and opener specialists immediately!

Step 3- Test the Garage Door Photoelectric Reverse System

A picture showing where is the photoelectric safety reverse system on your garage door and what it does

What to look for on your garage door when you want to check your photocell reverse system? 2 photo eyes installed on each side of your door no more than 6 inches from the floor.

Steps to Follow

  • The reason for this test is to check and make sure that the photoelectric safety system in your garage is working correctly. You’re hoping that when you break the infrared beam between the emitter and the receiver that the garage stops closing.
  • DO NOT USE ANYTHING ALIVE. Get a stuffed animal or something that will not be hurt if the test fails.
  • Close the garage door and put the chosen inanimate object between the emitter and receiver. If the garage stops closing, hooray! If not, you have a problem.

Step 4- Check the Garage Door Wall Control Panel

A picture of garage door opener wall control panel

Where is your wall control panel? On the wall, often by the access door leading to the house or beside the garage door itself, at least 5’ from the floor.

  • Verify that the open and close buttons work well.
  • Verify that the light button works.

Step 5- Verify the Garage Door Remotes and Keypad

  • When did you last change the batteries in your remote and/or keypad? If you don’t remember, it might be time to check!
  • Test to see if they need to be replaced: when you press the button on either device, does a LED light turn on? If it doesn’t, your batteries may have to be replaced.
  • If you replaced the batteries and it’s still not working, you might need to program them again. Here’s how to program many LiftMaster accessories.
  • Changed the batteries and reprogrammed… and still nothing? You might need to replace it. Learn about remote controls, 3-button mini remotes, and universal remote compatibility.
  • How’s the antenna looking? An antenna wire should stick out the bottom of your garage door opener. Double-check it’s not bent or broken—if it is, that could be the problem.

Step 6- Check the Garage Door Emergency Release Rope and Handle

A picture of an installer a garage door opener emergency release rope and handle

The garage door installer is examining the garage door opener emergency release rope and handle

Find the rope that’s hanging near the rail that runs from your garage door opener to the door.

It’ll be hanging there when your garage door is closed. It’s a manual release handle and rope.

Check it out:

  • Pull the emergency release cord

    Both your garage door AND your garage door opener motor are connected to a trolley that moves when you activate the garage (opening or closing). If you pull the emergency cord, you’ll turn off the trolly and be able to manipulate the garage door manually.

  • Use the lifting handle to lift the garage door

    The manual lifting handle might be on the bottom panel of your garage door. Once you find it, lift the garage.

If everything is working as it should—meaning that your garage door spring system is well-balancedyou’ll be able to easily lift the door.

If the garage door is difficult to lift, STOP.

Be very careful as you reverse what you’ve done to close the garage door, then back away as quickly as is safely possible. Make sure no one goes into the garage until you have your door checked, repaired, or have it undergo maintenance.

Garage door springs are under extreme tension. You could get seriously injured if even one of them isn’t working correctly.

You may have believed that garage door openers lift the garage doors, but that’s not the case. It’s the springs that are doing all the heavy lifting.

Step 7- Trolley and Rail Maintenance Time

If you’ve not been smooshed by your garage and all your tests are coming up clear, it’s time for maintenance.

Get ready!

A picture of an installer checking if the  garage door opener trolley slides well on the rail

The installer is checking if the garage door opener trolley slides well on the rail

  • Test the trolly—make sure it slides well along the rail.
  • Get a clean, dry cloth and wipe down the garage door opener rail to clear it of debris and dust.
  • Lubricate that rail with a petroleum-based lubricant.
  • Extra Mile: You’re already doing maintenance, so might as well go the whole mile. Repeat these steps with your garage door tracks, springs, and hinges.

Give yourself a pat on the back—you’ve done it! You’ve checked and provided maintenance to your automatic garage door opener!

Repeat this maintenance twice a year to make sure your garage door opener is not a safety hazard.

Scared of Danger or Injury? Talk to a Garage Door Opener Specialist

A picture of a garage with 2 single garage doors in Prestige XL design, 9' x 8' size, Moka Brown color, with Cachet windows

Are you looking for a prestigious exterior look for your house? Our garage door Prestige XL design would enhance it even more! Here shown in 9’ x 8’ size, Moka Brown color, with Cachet windows.

Contact us now at 613-547-4566 in Kingston and 613-966-5655 in Belleville.

No matter what you’re trying to do with your garage door (maintenance, repair, or installation), we can help you! Garages are our passion, and anything you might need help with, we can assist you with.

If it’s time for a new garage door opener or a new garage door

At Upper Level Doors, we would love to help you out. With just a few answers, we can curate the best experience for you. We can figure out your expectations, budget, and suggest great products that you’ll use to get you started.

Already know what supplies you want?

We can give you a quotation by email.

Want to shop online and see what others have done?

Take a gander at our residential photo gallery. Or, if you’d rather see a mock-up of our favorite garage door designs and colors on your home, grab your smartphone and try our Design Centre.

Make sure you know what you’ll be getting into by virtually trying it out on your house.

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