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Is my old garage door opener safe?
CPSC says all garage door openers made or imported for sale in the U.S. after January 1, 1991 must have reversing systems, and a requirement for external entrapment protection, such as an electric eye or a door edge sensor, was added in 1993. (source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
CPSC urges homeowners with openers that do not automatically reverse to repair them or replace them with new reversing openers. CPSC Publication 523 (Pub. 523, revision code 009608Rv0411) states: "According to reports received by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 73 children between the ages of 2 and 14 have been trapped and killed under automatic garage doors since March 1982." The publication does not print a release date; we checked the figure in it on October 29, 2026. (source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Quick check
- Run the monthly reverse test.
- Look for two small sensors near the floor on each side of the door, or a sensor strip on the door's bottom edge.
If the opener does not reverse or has no sensors, have it repaired or replaced. (source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
On this site: Why won't my garage door close? · What to do if a garage door spring breaks · How to test your garage door's safety reverse · How to tell if a garage door is out of balance · Is my old garage door opener safe? · Utah rules for garage door work: licensing and exemptions · How to check a Utah garage door contractor's license · Before you hire a garage door company in Utah · Garage door repair cost in Utah · FAQ · Sources
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Publication 523: Non-Reversing Automatic Garage Door Openers Are a Hazard (PDF) (checked October 29, 2026)
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