Garage door sensors are a great way to keep your property and your family safe and secure. Before calling the professionals to install them, it’s important to understand what garage door sensors are and how they work. Keep reading to get all the nitty-gritty details.

Once you’re all caught up on sensors, we’ll help you find luxury garage doors to enhance your San Diego home.

What are garage door sensors?

Garage door sensors are also called safety beam sensors as safety is their primary purpose. Homeowners are legally required to install them so that all the precautions are taken. These sensors typically use an infrared beam, and they’re typically placed 6-8″ from the ground.

How do garage door sensors work?

Most sensors work by emitting an invisible light beam across the garage door opening. When the beam is broken, the sensors send a signal to one another. The door will stop and switch directions. Most sensors are adjustable, so you can set them to your desired sensitivity. The beam acts as a threshold, when broken, it stops the door from closing. This way, if something gets in the way, it will not be trapped or crushed.

There are also other types of sensors, such as the following:

Monitoring sensors

Monitoring sensors are usually installed when a home has multiple garage doors. These sensors alert you whenever any of the doors are open. Typically, you can install receivers in your home or download an app to your phone. You should be able to open and close the doors remotely and choose the amount of time after which the door should close automatically.

Pressure sensors

These sensors are usually installed following the bottom edge of your garage door. If the door comes into contact with an object, the sensors will stop and reverse the door’s motion. Pressure sensors are sensitive to even a low amount of pressure, which makes opening and closing the door much safer.

CO2 sensors

CO2 sensors monitor CO2 levels to prevent carbon dioxide buildup. If the levels are too high, they will open the door immediately. While these sensors are not as common as the other two, they can bring an extra layer of safety for you and your family. If there’s fire or smoke in your home, you’ll be able to escape safely.

Why should I install a garage door sensor?

Besides being legally required to have them, there are other reasons why installing sensors is a good idea. Garage door sensors are an important safety feature in your home. With them, you’ll know when there’s any debris or object in the way. You’ll also prevent any accidents from happening to you, your loved ones, or your pets.

What should I do if the sensors don’t seem to work?

If you’re not sure your sensors are working properly, you can check the small lights (following the given instructions) and see whether the wiring is wet or damaged. It’s best not to try and fix anything on your own, especially not a broken garage door. Call the professionals, explain the problem, and let them take care of it. You can also get recommendations for boosting your door’s lifespan.

Where can I find luxury garage doors in San Diego?

If you’d like your safety to come with a touch of luxury, Radford Garage Doors & Gates of San Diego is at your service. We have over seven decades of experience following our customer-oriented approach, striving to provide homeowners with unique and high-quality doors. From design and installation to maintenance and services, you can count on our team of trained professionals.

Whether you live in Balboa Park or elsewhere in San Diego, give us a call and let us spruce up your home!