Garage Door Safety Inspection: before you call

Backing out in a hurry, the bumper tapped the bottom section. The dent is small and the door still runs, but it seems to shudder now at the point where the panel meets the track.

Worth answering before the call

Have you tried lifting the door by hand, and how did it feel? What prompted the call, and when did you first notice it? How many doors need inspecting, and are they all at the same address?

Can I do these checks myself between visits?

The three owner checks, yes: the manual balance test from the closed position, the board test for contact reversal and the photo-eye test with a broom handle through the beam. Industry guidance recommends all three monthly. What stays with a technician is anything that involves loosening, winding or unhooking springs, cables, drums or bottom brackets, and any adjustment to the opener's force settings.

What is the board test?

It is the contact-reversal check. A short length of 2x4 lies flat on the floor in the middle of the opening and the door is closed from the wall button. When the bottom edge meets the wood, the door should halt and travel back up without help. Passing shows the opener's down-force and travel limits are set to back off from something solid. The technician never substitutes a hand or foot for the board.