2023-12-28 Garage Door Galt
Garage doors are the largest moving objects in most homes, and while they provide convenience and security, they can pose significant safety risks if not properly maintained or used correctly. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of people are injured by garage doors each year. This guide covers essential safety tips to protect your family.
Modern garage doors come equipped with important safety features that every homeowner should understand and regularly test.
Required on all automatic garage doors manufactured after 1993, photo-eye sensors detect objects in the door's path. These small devices are mounted on either side of the door, about 6 inches from the ground. When an object breaks the invisible beam between them, the door automatically reverses.
To test your photo-eye sensors: 1. Open your garage door fully 2. Press the close button 3. While the door is closing, wave a broom handle or other object through the sensor beam 4. The door should immediately reverse direction
If the door doesn't reverse, clean the sensors with a soft cloth and try again. If it still doesn't work, call a professional for inspection and repair.
This mechanical safety feature causes the door to reverse if it contacts an object while closing. Modern openers also have force sensitivity settings that determine how much resistance triggers the reverse.
To test the auto-reverse: 1. Place a roll of paper towels or similar object flat on the ground in the door's path 2. Close the door 3. When the door touches the object, it should immediately reverse
Children are particularly vulnerable to garage door accidents. Teach your kids these important rules:
Never play with garage door controls. Remote controls and wall buttons are not toys. Keep remotes out of children's reach and mounted wall controls at a height children can't reach.
Never run under a moving door. Even with safety features, timing a run under a closing door is dangerous. Teach children to wait until the door completely stops before entering or exiting.
Keep fingers away from door sections. The hinges between door panels can pinch or crush fingers. Modern doors often have tamper-resistant brackets and pinch-resistant panels, but caution is still necessary.
Never hang on the door or pull the emergency release. These actions can cause the door to fall or create entanglement hazards.
Regular maintenance keeps your garage door operating safely:
1. Disconnect the opener by pulling the emergency release cord 2. Manually lift the door about halfway 3. A properly balanced door should stay in place 4. If it falls or rises, the springs need adjustment by a professional
Schedule annual inspections with a qualified technician who can: - Lubricate moving parts, Adjust spring tension, Tighten hardware, Test and calibrate safety features, Identify potential problems before they become dangerous
If a person or pet is trapped under a garage door: 1. Immediately press the wall button or remote to reverse the door 2. If that doesn't work, pull the emergency release cord to disconnect the opener 3. Carefully lift the door manually 4. Seek medical attention for any injuries
If your garage door was manufactured before 1993, it may lack modern safety features. Consider these upgrades: - Install new photo-eye sensors, Upgrade to a modern opener with auto-reverse, Replace worn springs and cables, Install tamper-resistant brackets, Add pinch-resistant panels
Ensure everyone in your household knows how to manually operate the garage door in case of power outages or opener failures. Locate and test the emergency release handle regularly.
At Garage Door Galt, safety is our top priority. We offer comprehensive safety inspections and can upgrade your existing system with the latest safety features. Contact us today to schedule a safety assessment for your garage door.