May is officially recognized as Garage Door Safety Month in our industry. As such, it’s a time for the public and industry professionals alike to focus on the safe operation and maintenance of garage doors. We have a few tips for you to help you start thinking about your garage door’s condition and whether there are any steps for you to take or habits to form that will allow you to improve your garage door’s safety.
Here are five safety tips for garage doors:
- Inspect Your Garage Door Regularly – A monthly visual inspection can improve your awareness of your garage door’s condition. Look for signs of damage like rust, loose hinges, or a warping track. If anything looks misaligned, call us for garage door repair.
- Leave Spring Adjustments to Professionals – Garage door springs counterbalance the weight of the doors. If one is damaged or you attempt to replace it yourself, it can cause serious injury or worse because its coiled design exerts so much pressure. Always trust a professional to repair or replace springs.
- Stay Away from Moving Doors – This may seem like common sense, but you should never drive, walk, or stand beneath a moving garage door. If something goes wrong, that’s hundreds of pounds that can fall on you. If you have kids, it’s important to teach them that they should never go near a moving garage door.
- Test the Reverse Feature – Automatic garage doors have sensors that can detect when an obstacle is in the door’s path and reverse the door. Test this feature by putting an object in its path and then trying to close the door. Make sure it’s an object that isn’t valuable, like a cardboard box, paper towel roll, or brick.
- Don’t Leave Your Remote in the Car – If you park your car outside, never leave your garage door remote in the car, even if it’s hidden in a compartment. Someone could easily break into your car and access your property.
If you have any questions about safely maintaining or operating garage doors, contact us.