Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering convenience and security. However, improper use or lack of maintenance can lead to safety hazards. To protect your family and property, follow these essential safety tips for operating your garage door.
Inspecting Your Door Frequently
Routine maintenance is the first step to ensuring safe operation. Inspect the springs, wires, rollers, and tracks for wear and tear. Look out for unusual noises or jerky movements, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues early can stop hazards and expensive fixes.
2. Keeping Remote Controls Secure
Treat your garage door remote control like a house key. 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 digital key or PIN to operate.
Teach Your Family About Garage Door Safety
Ensure everyone in your household understands how to use the garage door safely. Teach children not to treat it as a toy or its mechanisms and explain the risks of tampering with moving parts. Proper training is key to preventing accidents.
Keep Features in Check
Modern garage doors are equipped with safety features like auto-reverse and motion sensors. Test these features regularly 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.
Leave Repairs to the Pros
While some maintenance tasks can be handled on your own, repairs involving torsion mechanisms, wires, or the opener mechanism should always be left to professionals. These components are under high tension and can cause serious injury if mishandled.
