Garage doors are the largest and heaviest moving objects in most homes. A standard two-car garage door weighs between 200 and 400 pounds. That is a lot of weight moving up and down every day. Without proper safety measures, a garage door can cause serious injuries, especially to children and pets.
Here are the most important safety tips every family should follow.
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Test Your Auto-Reverse Feature Monthly
All garage door openers made after 1993 are required to have an auto-reverse feature. This means the door should reverse direction if it hits something while closing. To test it, place a piece of wood or a roll of paper towels on the ground where the door meets the floor. Close the door. It should reverse as soon as it touches the object. If it does not reverse, stop using the door and call for repairs right away.
Check Your Photo-Eye Sensors
The sensors at the bottom of your garage door tracks detect objects in the door’s path. They should have steady, glowing lights when working properly. Clean them monthly with a soft cloth. Make sure nothing is blocking them. If one light is flickering, the sensors may be misaligned and need adjusting.
Teach Kids About Garage Door Safety
Children should know these basic rules:
- Never play under or near a moving garage door
- Never try to race under a closing door
- Never touch the springs, cables, or other hardware
- Never put fingers between door panels
- Keep the remote control out of reach of small children
Talk to your kids about why garage doors are not toys. Even a door with working safety features can be dangerous if misused.
Keep the Emergency Release Cord Accessible
Every garage door opener has a red emergency release cord hanging from the rail. This cord disconnects the door from the opener so you can open or close the door by hand during a power outage. Make sure the cord is accessible but out of reach of small children. Know how to use it before you actually need it.
Never Try DIY Spring or Cable Repairs
Garage door springs and cables are under extreme tension. They can cause severe injury or death if they snap while you are working on them. Always hire a licensed professional for spring and cable work. Our residential garage door repair team handles these dangerous repairs safely every day.
Schedule Annual Safety Inspections
The best way to keep your garage door safe is to have it inspected by a professional at least once a year. Our garage door maintenance service includes a complete safety check. We test the auto-reverse, inspect springs and cables, check sensor alignment, and look for worn parts that could fail. Families in Willimansett and the Aldenville neighborhood rely on us to keep their garage doors safe year-round.
Upgrade Older Openers
If your garage door opener is more than 20 years old, it may not have modern safety features like auto-reverse sensors and rolling code technology. Upgrading to a newer model greatly improves safety for your family. Learn about our opener installation and upgrades to see your options.
If your garage door ever behaves unexpectedly, do not ignore it. Unusual sounds, jerky movements, or a door that does not stay in place are all warning signs. Contact our emergency repair service at (413) 435-4810. Your family’s safety is too important to wait.