Did you know that your garage door is the largest, heaviest moving object in your home? As such, you want to make sure this area is safe for all family members that use it. Watch out for these possible areas of trouble and take steps to correct them today.

Faulty Safety Sensors

These sensors are used to reverse the direction of the door should something cross their beam. Over time the sensors can get moved or debris can block the beam, making the sensors unable to read if an object is in it’s path. You can test them by closing the garage door and using a long handled broom to break the beam. If the door does not stop immediately and reverse it’s direction, it would be wise to call a professional to trouble shoot and fix this problem.

Teach Children Garage Door Safety

Kids should know not to hang or touch the door when it is in motion. No one wants a pinched finger! They should also know not to play with the remote control. If possible, encourage children not to play near the garage door….safe for them and can prevent dents to the door from baseballs and other sports items.

Do a Safety Check

Once a month, do a visual inspection of the door and it’s working parts. Look over the springs, cables, pulleys, bolts, and rollers for wear and tear. Anything that needs to be addressed should be done by a professional. Those tension springs and cables can cause serious injury to the untrained.

Test the Manual Release Cord

Everyone that uses the garage door should know how to manually release the door in the event of a power outage. With the door in the down position, pull the release cord. Once the door is free from the opener, you can manually open and close the garage door. If moving the door is extremely difficult you may have a broken spring….again, time to call a professional. To reengage the door, press your remote and let the garage door open, that should reconnect the release cord. On some units, you may have to slide the release cord back into place to reconnect.

Enjoy your upcoming summer and let us know if you need garage door service. Our service techs want you to be safe.