Your overhead garage door is an essential part of your home, offering ease of access and peace of mind. However, improper use or lack of maintenance can lead to dangerous situations. 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, cables, wheels, and rails for signs of damage. Look out for unusual noises or uneven motion, which could indicate a problem. Addressing these issues early can prevent accidents 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 securely when not in use. For added security, consider a smart garage door opener that requires a smartphone app or PIN to operate.
Knowledge Is Power
Ensure everyone in your household knows 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 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 professional inspection.
Leave Repairs to the Pros
While some maintenance tasks can be DIY-friendly, repairs involving torsion mechanisms, wires, or the opener mechanism should always be left to trained technicians. These components are under extreme stress and can cause serious injury if mishandled.
