5 Important Garage Door Safety Tips
As far as objects in your home go, a garage door has the potential to be one of the most dangerous. Like any heavy moving object, it must be treated with the proper care and precaution to avoid serious injuries. By following practical garage door safety tips, it’s easy to minimize any risk and keep everyone out of harm’s way. Here’s what we recommend.
Check the Garage Door Safety Sensor
A garage door safety sensor is among the most important parts of any properly functioning garage door. Simply put, it works by reversing the direction of the garage door in the event that a person, animal or object gets in the way while it’s closing.
It’s important to check your garage door safety sensor monthly. The easiest way to do this is by placing a roll of paper towels or another similar object in the path of the garage door and closing it. If you notice that the door doesn’t reverse to avoid crushing the paper towels, it’s time to call in the professionals to make some repairs.
Conduct Regular Visual Inspections
While you’re checking the garage door safety sensors, it’s a good idea to visually inspect the other key parts of your garage door, including the cables, pulleys, rollers and springs. Look for signs of rust or general wear and tear that could interfere with the functionality of your garage door. Again, if you see anything that looks damaged, leave it to the professionals; trying to repair your garage door yourself could be dangerous.
Teach Children Garage Door Safety
Some aspects of garage door safety that seem like common sense to most adults should still be reviewed with children once they’re old enough to understand. Make sure kids know to keep their fingers away from garage door panels while the door is in motion, and to never try to “ride” the garage door by hanging onto it while it’s opening. We also recommend keeping the garage door opener out of the hands of small children.
Never Race the Garage Door
It can be tempting to exit through the garage as the door is closing, especially if it seems like you have plenty of time to make it out. Though a properly functioning garage door safety sensor will likely prevent any impact from occurring, we still recommend avoiding this dangerous move. Wait until the garage door is fully open to exit, or choose an alternate route.
Don’t Share Your Password
Garage door safety isn’t only about preventing physical harm, it’s also about protecting your home and your belongings from intruders. If you have a keypad for opening your garage door, it’s important that you keep the password as private as you possibly can. Ideally, only the people living in your home should know the password, which means making sure that your kids understand that they shouldn’t share it with anyone else. Changing the password from time to time (and avoiding these common PIN number mistakes) is always a good habit to ensure your garage and home are secure.
If you have any questions at all about garage door safety, the team here at Champion Overhead Door is always here to help. We even offer 24-hour emergency service for issues that simply can’t wait. Contact us today to learn more!