2024-01-01 Mike Johnson
Your garage door is likely the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. While modern garage doors include numerous safety features, they can still pose risks if not properly maintained or used correctly. As parents and homeowners, it's essential to understand these risks and take steps to protect your family. Here are the most important garage door safety tips every family should know.
Never Walk Under a Moving Door
This might seem obvious, but it's worth emphasizing: never walk, run, or allow children or pets to pass under a garage door while it's moving. Garage doors are extremely heavy.typically between 150 and 400 pounds.and can cause serious injury if they come down unexpectedly. Teach children to wait until the door is completely open or closed before passing through.
Test Safety Features Monthly
Modern garage doors are equipped with two critical safety features: the auto-reverse mechanism and photo-eye sensors. These features are designed to prevent the door from closing on people, pets, or objects. Test them monthly to ensure they're working correctly.
To test the auto-reverse, place a 2x4 board flat on the ground in the door's path. When you close the door and it touches the board, it should immediately reverse direction. If it doesn't, the door needs adjustment or repair.
To test the photo-eye sensors, start closing the door, then wave an object (like a broom) through the sensor beam at the bottom of the door. The door should stop and reverse. If it doesn't, the sensors may be misaligned or malfunctioning.
Keep Remote Controls Secure
Garage door remotes are essentially keys to your home. Keep them secure and out of reach of children. Never leave a remote visible in your car, as this is an invitation to thieves. Consider using a keychain remote or a smartphone app instead of the visor-mounted remote that comes with your opener.
If you lose a remote, immediately reprogram your opener to prevent unauthorized access. This is typically a simple process outlined in your owner's manual, or our technicians can help.
Maintain Visual Contact
Never close your garage door without watching it complete its cycle. This simple habit can prevent accidents by allowing you to stop the door if a person, pet, or object enters its path. If you're backing out of the garage, wait until the door is fully closed before driving away.
Don't Let Children Play Near Doors
Children should never play with garage door remotes or wall controls.they're not toys. The moving door and its components can cause serious pinching and crushing injuries. Teach children that the garage door is not a play area and that they should stay clear of the door and its parts at all times.
Never Attempt DIY Spring Repairs
Garage door springs are under tremendous tension and can cause severe injury or death if they break or are improperly handled. If your springs are broken or need adjustment, call a professional. At Garage Door Corvallis, our technicians have the training, tools, and experience to handle spring repairs safely.
Keep the Path Clear
Keep the area around your garage door clear of debris, toys, tools, and other items. Objects in the door's path can interfere with its operation and potentially damage the door or opener. A clear path also reduces tripping hazards and makes it easier to spot potential problems.
Regular Professional Maintenance
Just like your car or HVAC system, your garage door needs regular professional maintenance to operate safely. We recommend annual tune-ups that include lubricating moving parts, checking and adjusting spring tension, testing safety features, and inspecting cables, rollers, and hardware for wear.
Know When to Call for Help
If your garage door is making unusual noises, moving unevenly, or showing signs of wear on cables or springs, don't wait.call a professional. These issues rarely fix themselves and often get worse (and more expensive) over time. More importantly, a malfunctioning garage door is a safety risk.
At Garage Door Corvallis, we're committed to keeping Willamette Valley families safe. If you have questions about garage door safety or need a professional inspection, contact us at 541-236-9442. We offer free safety checks with any service call and are always happy to help educate homeowners about proper garage door safety.