Your Ultimate Guide to Garage Door Safety
Garage doors may be a convenient way to access your home or business, but they can be dangerous if not properly maintained and operated. As the largest moving object in your home or business, garage doors require regular attention and care to keep them running safely and smoothly. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with essential garage door safety tips to help you avoid injuries and property damage caused by faulty or malfunctioning doors.
Section 1: The Importance of Garage Door Safety
Garage doors are crucial, especially in homes with attached garages. A functional garage door adds an extra layer of security, protects your vehicles and other items stored in the garage from theft, and enhances your property’s curb appeal. However, garage doors have moving parts that make them potential hazards if you do not follow proper maintenance and safety procedures.
As a garage door installation and service company in central Florida, Straight Up Garage Doors knows the importance of having a functional, safe garage door. We prioritize garage door safety in all our installations and services. In this blog post, we want to share our expertise and knowledge about garage door safety measures to ensure your garage door is working safely and efficiently.
Section 2: Conduct Regular Maintenance
Garage doors require periodic maintenance to ensure they’re functioning correctly. Regular maintenance helps prevent accidents, prolongs the lifespan of the door, and saves you money in repair costs.
You can perform a few simple maintenance checks by yourself. For instance, check the garage door’s balance to ensure it’s moving smoothly up and down. Close the door during a power outage, then lift the door manually to see if it opens and closes without resistance.
Additionally, check the garage door opener’s sensor eyes to ensure they are aligned and clean. Dirt, cobwebs or any other debris can affect their performance, preventing the garage door from closing entirely.
Section 3: Keep the Garage Door Remote Out of Reach of Children
Garage door remotes are handy, but they can be dangerous for children. Keep them out of reach of children at all times. Children can mistake the garage door remote for a toy, and as a result, accidentally close the door while someone or something is still beneath it.
In addition to keeping the remote control away from children, teach them the dangers associated with garage doors. Educate them that they should never play with or around a garage door.
Section 4: Test the Door’s Safety Features
Modern garage doors come equipped with safety features such as reversing mechanisms, photo-eye sensors, and emergency release mechanisms. Make sure to test these features regularly to ensure they’re working appropriately.
Performing a door balance test is also an essential safety measure for your garage door. To do this, disengage the door opener and lift the door manually. If the door falls to the floor, it means the door’s springs are out of balance, and you need to have a professional fix them.
Section 5: Perform Professional Maintenance Checks
While some maintenance checks can be done by homeowners, some may require a professional. It is crucial to schedule an annual inspection from a garage door professional. During an inspection, a technician will check the door’s motor, cables, springs, and hinges to ensure everything is working correctly.
With professional maintenance checks, the technician can spot potential problems before they become more significant issues, avoiding costly repairs. Additionally, professional maintenance helps ensure your garage door operates safely and efficiently.
Section 6: Consider Upgrading Your Garage Door
Older garage doors may pose significant dangers, especially if they lack essential modern safety features. Consider upgrading your garage door to a new one that meets current safety standards.
New garage doors come with modern features such as photo-eye sensors that detect obstructions, reversing mechanisms that cause the door to reverse if it hits something while closing and emergency release mechanisms that allow you to open the door manually during an emergency.
Section 7: Pay Attention to the Warning Signs
Pay attention to unusual sounds, slow door movement, or signs of wear and tear on your garage door. These warning signs may indicate that your garage door needs servicing. A defective garage door may be noisy, slow, or unresponsive, leading to frustrating inconveniences and dangerous situations.
Section 8: Keep Your Door in Good Condition
Keeping your garage door in good condition ensures it operates efficiently and safely. Always check to ensure that the door is free from debris or damage after use. If you notice any damage, have it repaired timely by professional technicians.
In addition to keeping your garage door in good condition, keep the area around your garage door free from anything that may obstruct the door’s movement. Items like bicycles, toys or tools should never be placed beneath the garage door when it’s in operation.
Section 9: Use a Professional Garage Door Installation and Service Company
Finally, work with a professional garage door installation and service company to ensure your garage door functions safely and efficiently. Professional technicians have the experience and expertise required to conduct professional installations, repairs, and maintenance on garage doors.
At Straight Up Garage Doors, we pride ourselves on providing professional garage door installation, repair and maintenance services. Our team of experienced, knowledgeable professionals will work with you to keep your garage door working safely and efficiently for years to come.
