Essential Garage Door Safety Tips Every Family Should Know
2024-01-01 7 min read Mike Johnson
<p>Your garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home, weighing between 150 and 400 pounds depending on size and material. While modern garage doors are equipped with important safety features, they can still pose risks if not properly maintained or used correctly. As a family-focused garage door service company, we want to help you keep your loved ones safe with these essential tips.</p>
<h2>Teach Children About Garage Door Safety</h2> <p>Children are naturally curious, and garage doors with their buttons and remote controls can seem like fascinating toys. It's crucial to teach children from an early age that garage doors are not playthings and that safety rules must be followed.</p>
<p>First and foremost, teach children to never stand, walk, or run under a moving garage door. The door can reverse unexpectedly, or safety sensors may fail. Children should wait until the door has completely stopped moving before passing through the opening.</p>
<p>Keep remote controls and wall-mounted openers out of reach of young children. Modern remotes look like toys and can be tempting for little ones to play with. Consider mounting the wall button at least 5 feet from the floor, and store remotes where children can't access them unsupervised.</p>
<p>Explain to older children that garage door springs, cables, and other components are dangerous and should never be touched or played with. The springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury if they snap or are released improperly.</p>
<h2>Test Your Safety Reverse Feature Monthly</h2> <p>All garage door openers manufactured after 1993 are required to have an automatic reverse feature that stops and reverses the door if it contacts an object while closing. This feature can save lives, but only if it's working properly.</p>
<p>To test the mechanical reverse, place a 2x4 board flat on the ground in the door's path. When you close the door and it contacts the board, it should immediately reverse and open. If the door doesn't reverse, or if it reverses too slowly, the opener needs adjustment or repair.</p>
<p>Modern openers also have photo-eye sensors mounted near the floor on either side of the door. These sensors create an invisible beam that, when broken, prevents the door from closing. Test these by closing the door and waving an object (like a broom handle) through the beam. The door should immediately reverse.</p>
<p>Clean the photo-eye lenses regularly with a soft cloth, as dirt, dust, or spider webs can interfere with their operation. Also ensure they're properly aligned.most sensors have indicator lights that show when alignment is correct.</p>
<h2>Keep the Garage Door in Sight While Operating</h2> <p>One of the most common causes of garage door accidents is people walking away while the door is still in motion. Always keep the door in sight until it has completely closed. This allows you to react quickly if something or someone moves into the door's path.</p>
<p>When leaving in your vehicle, watch the door close completely in your rearview mirror before driving away. This not only ensures the door closes safely but also confirms it's securely closed, protecting your home from intruders.</p>
<p>Never try to "beat" a closing door by running or driving through the opening. The few seconds saved aren't worth the risk of injury or vehicle damage.</p>
<h2>Perform Regular Visual Inspections</h2> <p>A monthly visual inspection of your garage door system can help identify potential problems before they become dangerous. Here's what to look for:</p>
<ul> <li><strong>Springs:</strong> Look for gaps, rust, or stretching in the springs above your door. Don't touch them.just observe from a safe distance.</li> <li><strong>Cables:</strong> Check for fraying, rust, or loose strands in the cables on either side of the door.</li> <li><strong>Rollers:</strong> Look for cracked, chipped, or worn rollers. Replace them if they appear damaged.</li> <li><strong>Tracks:</strong> Ensure tracks are properly aligned and free of debris. Bent or misaligned tracks can cause the door to bind or fall off track.</li> <li><strong>Hardware:</strong> Look for loose bolts, hinges, or brackets. Vibration from regular use can loosen hardware over time.</li> </ul>
<p>If you notice any damage or wear, contact a professional for inspection and repair. Don't attempt to repair springs, cables, or other high-tension components yourself.</p>
<h2>Never Leave the Door Partially Open</h2> <p>Some homeowners leave their garage door partially open for ventilation or to allow pets to enter and exit. This practice is dangerous for several reasons. First, it creates an attractive nuisance that may invite children to crawl underneath. Second, it puts strain on the opener and springs, which are designed to hold the door in fully open or fully closed positions. Third, it compromises home security and provides access to intruders.</p>
<p>If you need ventilation in your garage, consider installing screen door inserts or a ventilation system designed for this purpose. For pet access, pet doors designed for garage doors are available and much safer than leaving the door cracked.</p>
<h2>Secure the Emergency Release</h2> <p>Every garage door opener has an emergency release cord.usually a red handle hanging from the opener track.that allows manual operation during power outages. While this feature is essential, it can also be exploited by burglars who use tools to reach through the top of a closed door and pull the release.</p>
<p>To prevent this, you can install a shield that blocks access to the release cord from outside, or zip-tie the release mechanism in a way that still allows indoor use while preventing external manipulation. Ask your garage door professional about security options for your specific opener.</p>
<h2>Schedule Professional Maintenance Annually</h2> <p>While homeowners can perform basic maintenance tasks like lubrication and visual inspections, annual professional maintenance is essential for ensuring all safety features work properly. A trained technician will test and adjust safety systems, inspect all components for wear, and identify potential issues before they become dangerous.</p>
<p>At Garage Door Clackamas, our maintenance service includes complete safety system testing, lubrication of all moving parts, hardware inspection and tightening, spring tension adjustment, and a comprehensive report on your door's condition. Contact us today to schedule your annual safety inspection!</p>