Garage Door Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
Garage doors are an essential part of many homes, providing security and convenience for homeowners. However, they can also pose a danger if not properly maintained or operated. In this blog post, we’ll discuss garage door safety tips every homeowner should know to keep their families and properties safe.
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Regular maintenance is key
Regular maintenance of your garage door can help ensure that it operates smoothly and safely. It’s important to inspect the door’s springs, cables, and rollers for any signs of wear and tear. If you notice any damage, it’s best to call a professional garage door repair service to fix the issue.
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Test the door’s safety features
Modern garage doors come with various safety features such as photo-eye sensors, which detect any object or person in the door’s path and automatically stop it from closing. It’s important to test these safety features periodically to ensure they’re working correctly. Simply place an object in the door’s path and attempt to close it. If the door stops before it touches the object, the sensors are working correctly.
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Keep children and pets away
Garage doors can be dangerous for children and pets, who may not understand the risks involved. Always keep children and pets away from the door when it’s opening or closing. If you have a keypad or remote, keep it out of reach of children.
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Don’t leave the door partially open
Leaving a garage door partially open can be dangerous, as it can cause the door to fall unexpectedly. Make sure the door is fully open or closed before leaving the garage.
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Teach your family members about garage door safety
It’s important to educate your family members about garage door safety. Teach them about the dangers of playing with or around the door, and how to properly operate it. Make sure they know to never stick their hands or objects in the door’s path.
- Don’t attempt to repair the door yourself
Garage doors are complex machines and attempting to repair them yourself can be dangerous and lead to further damage. Always call a professional garage door repair service to fix any issues.
- Check the door’s balance
An unbalanced garage door can be dangerous and cause the door to fall unexpectedly. To check the door’s balance, disconnect the door from the opener and manually open it halfway. If the door stays in place, it’s properly balanced. If it falls, it’s unbalanced and needs to be adjusted by a professional.
- Keep the door in sight when operating it
Always keep the garage door in sight when operating it. This will allow you to quickly react if anything goes wrong, such as the door hitting an object or person.
- Keep the area around the door clear
Make sure the area around the garage door is clear of any objects, debris, or snow. This will prevent anything from obstructing the door’s path and causing it to malfunction.
- Replace old or damaged doors
Old or damaged garage doors can be dangerous and increase the risk of accidents. If your garage door is showing signs of wear and tear, such as cracks, dents, or rust, it’s time to replace it with a new one.
In conclusion, garage door safety is essential for every homeowner. Regular maintenance, testing safety features, keeping children and pets away, not leaving the door partially open, educating your family, calling a professional repair service, checking the door’s balance, keeping the door in sight, keeping the area clear, and replacing old or damaged doors are all important tips to follow to ensure your garage door is safe to use. By following these tips, you can prevent accidents and keep your family and property safe.
