GARAGE DOOR OPENER

Al Carrell: With a touch of a button you effortlessly enter your garage. But even if your garage door opener is running well, there's a good reason to consider replacing it. This homeowner is installing a new garage door opener for safety reasons. You know, the old type can't detect when maybe a kid is walking in under there. Look at this. Since 1973 at least 68 children have died in accidents involving electronic garage doors. Thousands more have been injured. Now here's the good news - since 1993 openers have been equipped with infrared safety sensors which detect anything in their path. The sensors immediately stop the door's movement if someone or something is in the way. See? Replacing an older garage door system is something you can do inexpensively. This Genie system costs about $169.00. Here's what you'll need to do the job: a step ladder, an electric drill and assorted bits, a ratchet and various sockets, a carpenter's level, a tape measure and a pencil, a pan head and Phillips head screwdriver, a hacksaw, a hammer, wire strippers, pliers and a wrench.

Installation takes a few hours and keep in mind instructions differ with every system. Start by removing your old opener and assembling the rails for the new one. The arrows point away from the opener's powerhead. Slide the top rail into the powerhead and secure it. Now connect the rails using clamps, nuts and bolts. The longest wire you'll find is called the STB because it runs the Genie opener's patented safety beam system. Route the STB wire down the slot on the top of the rail. Now run the two short wires down the rail strap. Secure all the wires with clips. Then, connect the shorter wires to the open and close limit switches. Now install the header bracket with lag screws. Loosely secure the rail strap to the header bracket and install the new powerhead where your old one was. Now tighten the nut where the bracket joins the rail strap. Insert the curved door arm into the door bracket and the straight arm into the carriage slot. And then join the two by overlapping them. Find the proper location for the open and close limit switch by loosening their screws and moving them until their plastic arms overlap the carriage. Then, retighten the screws. Measure and mark inside the doorframe where your sensor and source will go. They must be positioned more than four, but less than six inches above the floor. Attach the sensor and the source to the brackets and then the brackets to the frame. And here's a tip - be sure the sensor is on the side of the garage receiving the least amount of sunlight. Wire the powerhead to the STB source and the STB source to the sensor. Then, wire the powerhead to the wall control. Here's an important safety note - the control must be at least five feet from the floor so that children cannot reach it. Ah, you're done! Now it's time to reap the many benefits your new opener offers.

New technology allows the homeowner to avoid security problems. This new Genie has an access system that changes the radio code each and every time the door is opened. And this way it minimizes the possibility somebody's going to steal the code. Be sure you follow all the safety warnings in your manual and check your local building codes. Some areas require an electrician to do the wiring. If you do install the system yourself I think you're going to get an enormous payoff in added security, safety and peace of mind.

Contacts:
Genie - 800-654-3643

Purchase Video

Episode 60 1997 - 98 Season

| Lost Arts | Air Infiltration | Garage Door Opener | People in the Mortgage Process |