Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering ease of access and peace of mind. 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.
1. Regular Maintenance Checks
Routine maintenance is the foundation to ensuring safe operation. Inspect the torsion springs, wires, rollers, and tracks for wear and tear. Look out for strange sounds or jerky movements, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues early can prevent accidents 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 securely when not in use. For added security, consider a modern opener system that requires a digital key or PIN to operate.
Safe Practices for the Household
Ensure everyone in your household knows how to use the garage door safely. Teach young ones not to play near the door or its mechanisms and explain the dangers of tampering with moving parts. Proper training is key to preventing accidents.
4. Testing Safety Features
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.
DIY? Not for Garage Doors
While some maintenance tasks can be handled on your own, repairs involving torsion mechanisms, wires, or the opener mechanism should always be left to trained technicians. These components are under extreme stress and can cause serious injury if mishandled.
