Basic Tips for Garage Door Safety

Garage door safety at home starts with some basic tips and commonsense ideas. You may not think about garage maintenance, if you’re not due for garage door repair or a new installation. There are many ways that daily use impacts you and your family’s safety at home. Residential garage doors are a main point of entry into homes, because people like using keypads and remote controls over carrying house keys. They’re also a popular extra room for recreation or small business start-ups.

Children and Garage Door Safety

Sometimes, homeowners know what they should and should not be doing, but slips, forgetfulness, and feeling too safe can create unsafe scenarios.

• Keep small children away from garage door openers and buttons.

This does seem obvious, doesn’t it? You’d be surprised how often accidents occur. Small children excel at finding hiding spots and climbing up to reach things. It’s important to speak to them ahead of time about garage door safety, and it’s also essential to keep remote controls out of sight.

Garage Door Reverse Mechanism

Most garage doors made in the mid-1990s to today have a reverse mechanism. It’s there as a safety guard to prevent physical injury or death, because the garage door will reverse itself on contact.

• Use paper towels or pieces of wood to test the reverse mechanism.

at home. If you’re not sure that it is working properly, or if the door’s reverse feature does not easily respond to contact, call your garage door repair expert right away.

Theft Prevention at Home

Garage doors provide easy access to the home in a few ways, because a simple remote control, car button, or simple access code can open them.

• Change your garage door security codes periodically.

It is crucial to remove buttons and remote controls from cars that are kept outside of the garage. Theft prevention also involves locking the connecting door to the home from the inside, because it is less popular since many people don’t use keys anymore.

Garage doors are a great convenience in modern homes, because they come in so many different styles and designs. However, it is important to always note safety first, because trends don’t always mean safe. When purchasing a new garage door, ask the right questions. If you’re getting an upgraded opener, make sure you’ve considered safety, security, and prevention features.