December 28, 2024 7 min read Sarah Williams
Your garage door is one of the heaviest moving objects in your home, weighing anywhere from 150 to 400 pounds or more. While modern safety features have made garage doors much safer than in the past, accidents can still happen.especially when children and pets are involved. Here's what every family needs to know about garage door safety.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 20,000 people are injured by garage doors each year. Many of these injuries involve children and can be prevented with proper awareness and precautions.
Modern garage doors come equipped with several safety features. Make sure yours are working properly:
These sensors are mounted near the floor on either side of the door. They create an invisible beam, and if anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, it automatically reverses. Test them monthly by waving an object (like a broom) through the beam while the door is closing.
If the closing door contacts an object, it should immediately reverse direction. Test this by placing a 2x4 flat on the ground in the door's path. The door should reverse upon contact.
This allows you to open the door manually if there's a power outage or mechanical failure. Make sure everyone who uses the garage knows how to operate it.
Children are naturally curious, and the garage can be fascinating.and dangerous. Here's how to keep them safe:
Mount wall controls at least 5 feet from the floor.high enough that small children can't reach them. Keep remote controls secure and treat them like any other household safety device.
Never let children play in or near the garage while the door is operating. Make sure the door is fully open or fully closed before allowing play in the driveway.
Pets face similar risks as children and may not understand the danger:
A well-maintained door is a safer door. Include these checks in your routine:
A trained technician should inspect your door yearly to ensure all safety features are working properly and all components are in good condition.
Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do in an emergency:
If the door becomes stuck or there's a power outage, you'll need to operate it manually. The manual release is typically a red cord hanging from the opener track.
Post emergency service numbers near the garage door controls. If there's ever a malfunction that could be dangerous, don't try to fix it yourself.
Garage doors manufactured before 1993 may not have modern safety features. If your door lacks photo-eye sensors or a reliable auto-reverse mechanism, consider upgrading to a newer, safer model.
The best way to prevent accidents is to create awareness and establish habits:
Don't wait for an accident to happen. Review these safety tips with your family, test your door's safety features today, and schedule a professional inspection if it's been more than a year. Your family's safety is worth the effort.
Have questions about garage door safety or need a safety inspection? Contact us today. Our certified technicians can ensure your door is operating safely and help you understand all of its safety features.