Home Inspector Lakeville | Home Inspection (952-583-3701)
It may seem obvious, but garage doors are so commonplace that often homeowners don’t think about the mechanical, electrical, and financial burden a garage door in disrepair may cause.
A home inspector will check that the door functions properly. When you want it to rise, it rises; when you want it lowered, it lowers. However, even though at first glance the mechanics seem to be working, this is only the first step in a long list of procedural checks to ensure the safety of your garage’s door, interior, and all that comes with it.
The inspector will do a thorough inspection of these areas and look for common defects such as:
- Door Fatigue- Structural defects of this sort are usually easy to spot. The inspector will look for cracks in the door itself, the door struggling to rise and lower, even if it does in fact complete those tasks – the effort should be minimal.
- Pressure release and photoelectric eyes- The inspector will test the pressure release on the garage door. They will use an object such as a 2 X 4, open the garage door, place the 2 X 4 flat on the ground, and close the garage door. If the pressure release is working properly, the door will automatically reverse direction and begin to ascend. Photoelectric eyes, while sounding rather fancy, have been a federal mandate for all garage doors since 1992. The “eyes” simply emit a beam that can detect any interference blocking the ray of light while the door is closing. If something breaks that barrier, the door will reverse – regardless of how far down the garage door has descended.
- Emergency Release- If a door malfunctions and falls rapidly while descending, an emergency release cord is more necessary than even its name implies. For example, if the door falls and neither the pressure release nor photoelectric eyes are working, the heavy garage door can trap a child or pet beneath it. The door, if automatic, will not lift up even with an adult’s assistance. This is where the emergency release is vital. The emergency release cord allows you to disengage the automatic function of the door and easily lift the garage door manually, freeing – and potentially saving – anything trapped beneath. The inspector will check to see if this is working properly.
- Fire Inspection- Each wall is checked for cracks or fire hazards that can spread from the garage throughout your entire home. The ceiling is checked in the same manner, as well as any doors that lead into the home. This is a vital procedure to ensure the safety of not only your garage, but also your home.
While it’s hard to say which check is most important for a home inspection of your garage, it is safe to assume that they all are necessary to certify the safety of your family. One check undone may result in disastrous consequences, which is why we are dedicated to performing a comprehensive home inspection.