Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering convenience and peace of mind. However, improper use or lack of maintenance can lead to dangerous situations. 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 springs, cables, rollers, and tracks for wear and tear. Look out for unusual noises or uneven motion, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues early can prevent accidents and expensive fixes.
Don’t Lose Control
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 modern opener system that requires a smartphone app or PIN to operate.
3. Educating Family Members
Ensure everyone in your household understands 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 the system. Proper training is key to ensuring safety.
Safety Features Matter
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.
Professional Repairs Are Safer
While some maintenance tasks can be DIY-friendly, repairs involving torsion mechanisms, wires, or the opener mechanism should always be left to professionals. These components are under high tension and can cause severe harm if mishandled.
