5 min read
Your garage door is likely the largest and heaviest moving object in your home, weighing between 200 and 400 pounds on average. While modern garage doors are equipped with safety features, it's crucial for families to understand potential hazards and take proactive steps to ensure everyone stays safe. Here are essential garage door safety tips every family should follow.
Before diving into safety tips, it's important to understand why garage door safety matters:
- A closing garage door can exert significant force.enough to cause serious injury or death, Springs under high tension can cause severe injury if they break unexpectedly, Children and pets can be trapped or crushed by a closing door, Older doors may lack modern safety features
All garage door openers manufactured after 1993 are required to have an auto-reverse feature. This safety mechanism causes the door to reverse if it encounters an obstacle while closing. Here's how to test it:
The Object Test: 1. Place a 2x4 piece of wood flat on the ground in the door's path 2. Press the close button 3. The door should reverse upon touching the wood 4. If it doesn't, stop using the door and call a professional immediately
The Force Test: 1. Hold the bottom of the door with your hands as it's closing 2. Apply light upward pressure 3. The door should reverse easily 4. If it continues closing with significant force, the opener needs adjustment
Modern garage doors have photo-eye sensors mounted about 6 inches from the ground on either side of the door opening. These sensors create an invisible beam.if anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the door reverses.
Keeping sensors working properly: - Clean the sensor lenses monthly with a soft cloth, Make sure nothing is blocking the sensors, Check that both sensors' indicator lights are on, Ensure sensors are properly aligned (facing each other) - Keep the area around sensors clear of debris and spider webs
Children are naturally curious and may not understand the dangers of a garage door. Teach them these rules:
- Never play under or near a moving garage door - Keep fingers away from door sections where they can get pinched - Never hang on the garage door or attempt to ride it - The remote is not a toy.keep it out of reach of young children - Wait until the door is completely open or closed before walking through - Never try to race under a closing door
Consider posting a simple safety rules poster in your garage as a reminder.
Garage door remotes can be dangerous in the wrong hands:
- Keep remotes out of children's reach, Never leave remotes in unlocked cars (security risk and child access) - Consider wall-mounted keypads instead of remotes for older children, Lock the garage door opener when away for extended periods
Make it a habit to visually inspect your garage door system regularly:
Weekly checks: - Listen for unusual sounds during operation, Watch for jerky or uneven movement, Check that the door closes completely
Monthly checks: - Inspect cables for fraying or wear, Look at springs for signs of wear or rust, Check rollers, hinges, and tracks for damage, Test the auto-reverse feature
Annual professional inspection: - Have a certified technician perform a complete safety inspection, Professional lubrication of all moving parts, Spring tension adjustment, Opener tune-up
The red emergency release cord allows you to manually open the garage door if the power goes out or the opener fails. However, it can be a safety concern:
- Keep it out of reach of young children, Know how to use it properly before an emergency, Never pull it while the door is moving, Consider a release cover that makes it harder for children to access
If someone is trapped under the garage door:
1. Press the wall button or remote immediately to reverse the door 2. If that doesn't work, pull the emergency release cord to disengage the opener 3. Manually lift the door (with help if needed due to weight) 4. Seek medical attention even if injuries seem minor 5. Do not use the door again until inspected by a professional
While there's a lot you can do to ensure garage door safety, some tasks should only be handled by professionals:
- Spring replacement (extremely dangerous) - Cable repair, Track alignment, Opener mechanism repairs, Safety system calibration
At Garage Door Newport Beach, we take family safety seriously. Our certified technicians can perform a complete safety inspection, make any necessary repairs, and ensure your garage door meets current safety standards. Don't take chances with your family's safety.schedule an inspection today.