5 min read
Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home, weighing anywhere from 150 to 400 pounds or more. While modern safety features have made garage doors much safer, understanding proper safety practices is essential for protecting your family and pets.
Federal law requires all garage door openers manufactured after 1993 to have an auto-reverse feature. When the door contacts an object while closing, it should immediately stop and reverse direction. This feature prevents the door from closing on people, pets, or objects.
These sensors, located near the floor on both sides of the garage door opening, create an invisible beam. If anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the door stops and reverses. This is particularly important for preventing injuries to children and pets who may run under a closing door.
Every garage door opener has a manual release handle, usually a red cord hanging from the opener track. This allows you to disconnect the door from the opener in case of emergency or power failure.
Regular testing ensures your safety features are working correctly. To test the auto-reverse, place a 2x4 board flat on the ground in the door's path and close the door. The door should reverse immediately upon contact. To test the photo-eye sensors, close the door and pass your leg through the beam path. The door should stop and reverse immediately.
Garage door remotes are not toys. Store them out of reach of children and never let children play with the remote or the wall switch. Teach children that the garage door is not a toy and they should never run under a moving door.
Wait until the door is fully closed before walking away or driving off. This ensures no one enters the path of the closing door and that the door closes completely and securely.
Keep the area around photo-eye sensors clear of debris, cobwebs, and stored items. Dirty or obstructed sensors may not function properly, potentially allowing the door to close on objects or people.
Never place fingers between door sections, especially when the door is moving. Teach children to keep their hands away from the door panels and hinges, which can cause serious pinch injuries.
Garage door springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury or death if they break or are improperly handled. If you suspect a problem with your springs, contact a professional immediately. Signs of spring problems include difficulty lifting the door manually, the door falling too quickly when closing, visible gaps or separation in the spring, and loud banging noises when operating.
Cables work in conjunction with springs to lift your door. Frayed or worn cables should be replaced by a professional before they break.
Teach all family members, especially children, about garage door safety. Make sure everyone understands not to play under or near the garage door, never to race the closing door, to keep away from moving parts, and what to do if someone gets trapped.
Young children should never operate the garage door unsupervised. Consider placing wall-mounted controls at a height children cannot reach.
Pets can be curious about the garage door. Keep pets inside or in a secure area when operating the door. Be especially careful when backing out of the garage to ensure no pets are behind your vehicle.
In case of power failure or emergency, you need to be able to open your garage door manually. Practice using the manual release so you're prepared when you need it.
Keep the phone number for your garage door service company accessible. In an emergency, you'll want to be able to reach help quickly.
Annual professional inspection can identify potential safety issues before they become dangerous. A trained technician will check all safety features and mechanical components.
Contact Garage Door San Jose immediately if your safety features fail testing, you notice unusual sounds or behavior from your door, springs or cables show signs of wear, or the door doesn't stay in position when opened manually.
Your family's safety is too important to risk. Our experienced technicians are available for same-day service and can ensure your garage door operates safely.