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Your garage door is likely the most significant and heaviest moving object anywhere in your residence. Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect the safety risks involved with it. A faulty or overlooked garage door can pose serious hazards, particularly to children, pets, and vehicles. The good news is that modern garage doors are equipped with built-in safety features designed to prevent injuries and accidents. Still, as with any mechanical system, routine maintenance and care are necessary. Knowing the basics of garage door safety helps you keep your household and property protected by maintaining key features.
Key Garage Door Safety Features You Should Maintain
While a garage door might have the singular function of enclosing an interior parking and storage space, it has multiple components and features you need to maintain.
Photo-Eye Sensors
These are installed on either side of the door close to the ground, and they detect obstructions present in the door’s path. Anything breaking the beam, including kids, pets, and objects, should make the door stop immediately and reverse direction. Test the sensors at least once a month by placing a solid object in the door path. If it doesn’t reverse, clean the sensor lenses before realigning them.
Auto-Reverse Mechanism
Your garage door opener should have an auto-reverse system that makes the door reverse direction should it encounter resistance when closing. This feature prevents crushing injuries and vehicle damage. Test this feature by putting a roll of paper towels on the ground where the door is supposed to close. If it doesn’t reverse upon making contact, call a professional for service.
Manual Release Handle
The manual release handle allows you to disconnect the opener and operate the door manually in the event of an emergency or a power outage. Ensure that every adult family member can locate and operate the manual release handle. Keep the surrounding area clear, and test it routinely for proper functioning.
Garage Door Springs and Cables
Extension and torsion springs help lower and lift the door. Should one break, the door might fall suddenly, resulting in injury or damage. Support cables are supposed to provide extra safety in the event of a spring failure. Never attempt spring adjustments or replacements yourself; they’re under severe tension, and they can prove dangerous. Schedule annual maintenance to inspect and service components like these.
Wall Controls and Remote Safety
Wall-mounted controls must be a minimum of 5 feet off the ground to prevent children from being able to reach them. Also, remote controls should never be used like toys. Teach any children in your household that the garage door isn’t a plaything. Consider upgrading to a smart opener that allows you to control and monitor your garage door remotely via your smartphone, providing an additional layer of security.
Why Garage Door Safety Matters
Garage doors result in thousands of annual injuries, ranging from pinched fingers to more serious accidents resulting from falling doors and malfunctioning openers. Common culprits include DIY repairs gone wrong, children playing near the door mechanism, non-functional auto-reverse systems, misaligned photo-eye sensors, and worn or broken springs. Knowing how to prevent these risks enables you to maintain a safe garage door.
Most homeowners can perform basic checks and maintenance, but more complex issues require the expertise of industry technicians, particularly those involving sensors, tracks, or springs. If your garage door fails any safety test or behaves unpredictably, don’t put off scheduling repairs. Prompt attention can prevent accidents and avoid costly damage.
Making Safety a Priority
A garage door can be a convenient and even essential part of your home, but it can also be dangerous if it’s neglected. Maintaining key system features, including springs, sensors, and the auto-reverse system, is as important as knowing when to bring in a professional. Doing both ensures your garage door protects your home, rather than putting it at risk. Remember that just a few minutes of monthly maintenance can avoid injuries, prevent accidents, and give you peace of mind. Whenever you’re in doubt, err on the side of caution.
Do you need expert garage door repairs or maintenance? A professional inspection ensures everything is working as intended. Your family’s safety is worth it. Above the Rest Garage Door Repair offers garage door services to residents of Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. We provide emergency repairs, part replacements, installations, insulated doors, and reinforcement services. Contact Above the Rest Garage Door Repair today for all your home’s garage door needs!
