Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering ease of access and security. However, improper use or lack of maintenance can lead to dangerous situations. To protect your family and property, 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, cables, rollers, and tracks for signs of damage. Look out for strange sounds or uneven motion, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent accidents and expensive fixes.
2. Keeping Remote Controls Secure
Treat your garage door remote control like a security tool. Keep it out of reach of children and store it in a safe place when not in use. For added security, consider a smart garage door opener that requires a smartphone app 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 treat it as a toy or its mechanisms and explain the risks of tampering with the system. Proper training is key to ensuring safety.
Keep Features in Check
Modern garage doors are equipped with safety features like automatic reversal systems 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 springs, wires, or the opener mechanism should always be left to trained technicians. These components are under high tension and can cause serious injury if mishandled.
