Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering ease of access and security. However, improper use or lack of care can lead to dangerous situations. To ensure safe use, 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 springs, wires, wheels, and tracks for signs of damage. Look out for unusual noises or uneven motion, 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 securely when not in use. For added security, consider a modern opener system that requires a digital key or PIN to operate.
3. Educating Family Members
Ensure everyone in your household knows how to use the garage door safely. Teach children not to play near the door or its mechanisms and explain the dangers of tampering with moving parts. Clear communication is key to preventing accidents.
Check Your Door’s Safety Systems
Modern garage doors are equipped with safety features like auto-reverse and obstacle detection. 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.
DIY? Not for Garage Doors
While some maintenance tasks can be DIY-friendly, 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.
