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 safety hazards. To ensure safe use, follow these essential safety tips for operating your garage door.
Keep Your Door in Check
Routine maintenance is the first step to ensuring safe operation. Inspect the torsion springs, wires, wheels, and rails for signs of damage. Look out for strange sounds or uneven motion, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues early can stop hazards and expensive fixes.
Securing Your Garage Door Remote
Treat your garage door remote control like a house key. Keep it out of reach of little ones and store it in a safe place when not in use. For added security, consider a modern opener system that requires a digital key or PIN to operate.
Safe Practices for the Household
Ensure everyone in your household understands 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. Clear communication is key to ensuring safety.
4. Testing Safety Features
Modern garage doors are equipped with safety features like auto-reverse 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.
Professional Repairs Are Safer
While some maintenance tasks can be handled on your own, repairs involving springs, cables, or the opener mechanism should always be left to professionals. These components are under high tension and can cause severe harm if mishandled.
