Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering convenience and peace of mind. However, improper use or lack of care can lead to dangerous situations. To protect your family and property, follow these practical safety tips for operating your garage door.
Keep Your Door in Check
Routine maintenance is the first step to ensuring safe operation. Inspect the springs, cables, rollers, and rails for wear and tear. Look out for strange sounds or uneven motion, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent accidents and costly repairs.
Securing Your Garage Door Remote
Treat your garage door remote control like a house key. Keep it out of reach of children and store it in a safe place when not in use. For added security, consider a modern opener system that requires a smartphone app or PIN to operate.
Safe Practices for the Household
Ensure everyone in your household understands how to use the garage door safely. Teach young ones not to treat it as a toy or its mechanisms and explain the dangers of tampering with moving parts. Clear communication is key to ensuring safety.
4. Testing Safety Features
Modern garage doors are equipped with safety features like automatic reversal systems and obstacle detection. Test these features regularly to ensure they are functioning as intended. 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 DIY-friendly, repairs involving torsion mechanisms, cables, or the opener mechanism should always be left to professionals. These components are under extreme stress and can cause serious injury if mishandled.
