Your garage door is likely the largest and heaviest moving object in your home, often weighing hundreds of pounds. While it offers immense convenience and security, its size and power demand respect and attention to garage door safety. A malfunctioning door isn't just an inconvenience; it's a significant safety hazard that can take homeowners by surprise.
At Balanced Garage Doors, we believe that proactive awareness is the key to preventing accidents. We want to empower you to recognize potential dangers before they become emergencies. To help you protect your family and property, here are seven critical <b>garage door safety tips</b> every homeowner needs to know.
1. Perform a Monthly Visual & Operational Inspection
The first line of defense in garage door safety is regular, hands-on inspection. Catching small issues early prevents them from escalating into dangerous and expensive problems. Once a month, take a few minutes to perform these checks:
Look and Listen: Operate the door and watch it move up and down. Does it move smoothly or is it jerky? Listen for any unusual noises like scraping, grinding, or squeaking, which can indicate worn-out rollers or a problem with the tracks.
Check for Balance: Disconnect the opener by pulling the manual release cord (usually a red handle). You should now be able to lift the door manually with relative ease. If it's very heavy or if it slams shut when you let go, the springs are likely unbalanced and need professional adjustment. An unbalanced door puts immense strain on the opener, leading to premature failure.
Inspect the Hardware: Visually check the springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and mounting hardware. Look for signs of wear, rust, or damage. WARNING: If you see frayed cables or a broken spring, do not attempt to operate the door or fix it yourself. This is a job for a qualified technician. If you discover a broken spring, it's crucial that you know how to safely handle a broken garage door spring until help arrives.
Catching these issues early is crucial. If you're unsure about what you're seeing, scheduling a professional inspection is the safest course of action.
2. Know and Test Your Door's Core Safety Features
A common question we hear is, "What safety features should a garage door have?" Modern garage doors are equipped with several critical mechanisms designed to prevent accidents. You need to know what they are and ensure they are working correctly.
The Auto-Reverse Mechanism
This is a vital safety feature that makes the door reverse direction if it encounters an obstruction while closing. To test it, place a 2x4 board or a roll of paper towels flat on the ground in the door's path. When the closing door touches the object, it should immediately reverse and go back up. If it doesn't, the opener's force setting may be incorrect and needs professional adjustment.
Photoelectric Safety Sensors (Safety Eyes)
Located near the bottom of the track on each side, these sensors project an invisible beam. If anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the door will automatically reverse. Test this monthly by starting to close the door and then waving a broom handle or your foot through the beam. The door should immediately stop and reverse. Also, ensure the sensor lenses are clean and properly aligned.
3. DANGER: Never Attempt to Repair Garage Door Springs Yourself
The garage door springs are the single most dangerous component for a DIY repair. These springs are under extreme tension, holding enough energy to lift hundreds of pounds. A sudden, uncontrolled release of this energy can cause severe injury or even death. Understanding the risks is essential when weighing your options for DIY vs. professional garage door spring repair.
Signs of a failing spring include:
A visible gap in the spring coils.
The garage door feels extremely heavy when lifted manually.
The door opens a few inches and then stops.
You hear a loud "bang" from the garage.
It is critical to have these springs adjusted or replaced only by trained professionals who have the right tools and expertise to do the job safely.
4. Secure Your Garage Door Opener and Remotes
Your garage door opener is the brain of the system, and securing it is key to both safety and security.
Wall Control Placement: The wall-mounted control button should be installed at least 5 feet above the ground, well out of the reach of small children.
Educate Your Family: Teach everyone, especially children, that the garage door and its opener are not toys. They should never play with remotes or race under a closing door.
Remote Security: Don't leave your garage door remote clipped to the visor in your car, as this can be an easy target for thieves. Consider using a keychain remote or a smart opener you can control from your phone. Modern openers with rolling code technology are also more secure, as they change the access code every time you use them.
5. Keep Fingers and Hands Away from Moving Parts
This may seem obvious, but it's a leading cause of garage door injuries. The sections between the door panels can pinch fingers, causing serious harm as the door moves. Teach everyone in your household to keep their hands and fingers clear of the door sections, tracks, and other moving parts at all times.
6. Beware Of Sharp Edges and Keep Tracks Clear
Garage door tracks, brackets, and other hardware can have sharp edges. Always wear protective gloves if you are performing basic cleaning or maintenance. Be cautious when handling any components to avoid cuts and injuries. Furthermore, ensure the tracks are free of debris and obstructions. While it's good practice to keep them clean, avoid over-lubricating them, as this can attract more dirt and cause rollers to slip instead of turn.
7. Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance
The single most effective way to ensure long-term garage door safety is to have it professionally serviced once a year. While your monthly checks are important, a trained technician can spot subtle issues, perform complex adjustments, and lubricate the system correctly. Investing in regular maintenance can prevent catastrophic failures that might lead to a full replacement. For older doors, it's helpful to understand how much the average garage door replacement is to weigh your repair vs. replace options.
At Balanced Garage Doors, our expert garage door maintenance service is designed to keep your door operating safely and efficiently. Our technicians will inspect and tune every component of your system, from spring tension and opener force settings to cable integrity and sensor alignment.
With our five-star customer service, same-day solutions, no service fees, one-year warranty, quality parts, and fully stocked trucks, we're your trusted partner for all garage door needs. Don't wait for a dangerous malfunction to occur. Invest in preventative maintenance to protect your home and loved ones.
Trust us to provide a service that not only fixes immediate issues but also helps prevent future problems, ensuring your peace of mind and the longevity of your garage door.
Ready to ensure your garage door is as safe as possible? Schedule garage door service with the experts at Balanced Garage Doors by calling 770-880-0376 today.
