Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering ease of access and security. However, improper use or lack of maintenance can lead to dangerous situations. To protect your family and property, follow these practical safety tips for operating your garage door.
Inspecting Your Door Frequently
Routine maintenance is the first step to ensuring safe operation. Inspect the torsion springs, wires, wheels, and rails for signs of damage. Look out for strange sounds or uneven motion, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues promptly can stop hazards and costly repairs.
Don’t Lose Control
Treat your garage door remote control like a security tool. Keep it out of reach of little ones and store it in a safe place when not in use. For added security, consider a modern opener system that requires a smartphone app or PIN to operate.
Teach Your Family About Garage Door Safety
Ensure everyone in your household knows how to use the garage door safely. Teach young ones not to treat it as a toy or its mechanisms and explain the dangers of tampering with moving parts. Proper training is key to preventing accidents.
Safety Features Matter
Modern garage doors are equipped with safety features like auto-reverse and motion sensors. Test these features on a schedule to ensure they are functioning properly. Place an object like a block of wood under the door while it’s closing—if it doesn’t reverse upon contact, it’s time for a service check.
Professional Repairs Are Safer
While some maintenance tasks can be handled on your own, repairs involving torsion mechanisms, cables, or the opener mechanism should always be left to trained technicians. These components are under extreme stress and can cause serious injury if mishandled.
