Did you know that June is considered to be garage door safety month? With that being said, do you know about garage door safety? We have included seven tips to help further assist your knowledge on garage door safety.
Although garage doors are commonly used for storage or home projects, they also pose several safety and security issues as they are the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. To ensure that you and your family are safe, consider following some guidelines that are provided by the International Door Association (IDA) and Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA).
1. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE GARAGE:
Although this is not something you have to do only in the month of June, inspecting your garage door as a whole is a must every month. One of the most important actions you can take to prevent garage door related injuries is to visually inspect the garage door for any signs of wear and tear. Examine the garage door’s springs, cables, rollers and pulleys. You should do an inspection once a month, if you notice wear and tear on the door and parts, you will need the help of a professional, as leaving your door untreated can be a major threat to your safety. Do all the maintenance as soon as possible to minimize the risks.
2. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SAFETY SENSORS:
For maintaining your garage door, there is a need to check the safety sensors that are installed in the door. They should be installed six inches from the floor on the vertical tracks. The job of these sensors is to reverse the movement of the door if any person or animal passes through it while it is closing. To check the proper functioning of the sensors, push the close button and place a stick or a broom in its path. It should cut the beam and as a result, the door must move in the reverse direction. If this does not happen with your door, you need a professional to help for maintenance.
3. KEEP YOUR PASSWORD SAFE:
As the safety of your house will depend partly on your garage door, you need to do everything for your safety. One of these is to keep the password of your exterior keypad known only to family members so that no one can get in without your permission. Some models now come equipped with smartphone operation, so you can open the garage door for a guest without having to disclose your password. It is recommended to change your keypad code at least once a year to ensure as much privacy as possible.
4. TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT GARAGE DOOR SAFETY:
If you have children in your home, it is recommended to teach them garage door safety and to express the garage door is not a toy. Teach them about the proper use of doors. Ensure that no one puts their fingers between the door sections or hang from the opener arm or garage door as its moving. A good rule of thumb for everyone in the household is to keep hands away from any moving door. Keep your children informed about the dangers of garage doors.
5. REMOTE CONTROL SAFETY:
It is a growing trend to get inside the house by stealing the remote control of the garage door from a car. To avoid any kind of harmful situations, always keep the remote of the door safe. Do not leave it visible inside your car in any case. Moreover, for more security, you can have another lock on the garage’s entry door into the home, which can increase safety if the remote of the garage door is stolen.
6. TESTING THE FORCE OF THE DOORS:
The garage door is supposed to reverse when it senses pressure while closing. If this is not occurring, you need to contact a professional because proper functioning of the door is crucial.. While your garage doors are moving, you should not push them to complete the process. This is extremely damaging to your garage doors and can result in serious physical harm.
7. FIX THE BROKEN GLASS OR WINDOWS:
If you have a garage door that has glass in it or windows in the surrounding, there is a need to check them as well for maintaining your garage door. Broken glass can be a danger for people passing through the garage and could potentially puncture a hole in a car wheel if ran over. Observe the condition of the glass closely and check if any cracks are about to start. If there are cracks within the glass or the glass is completely broken, consider calling professional garage door company to come out and give you a quote on a replacement piece.
Citations: Garage Door Safety . DASMA. (2020, December 10). https://www.dasma.com/safety-tips/garage-doors/. Doors, D. G., says:, C. B., says:, D. G. D., says:, R. M., says:, A. M., says:, G. A., says:, R. W., & says:, M. (2017, June 20). Garage Door Blog. Delden Manufacturing Garage Door Blog. https://www.deldenmfg.com/garage-blog/june-is-garage-door-safety-month-7-safety-tips-for-your-garage-door/.