A garage door that doesn’t work properly can be a big inconvenience, but it can be an even bigger safety risk. It’s the largest and heaviest moving part in your home, it’s spring-loaded and the touch of a button puts it in motion. It’s not a system to be taken lightly; serious injuries and several deaths occur every year due to unsafe operation or poor maintenance. Follow these general safety tips for garage doors in Middletown NYto reduce the risks to your family’s safety.
Don’t let children operate the door. Never allow children to play with the remote control or push any buttons that operate the door. Buttons should be mounted at least five feet off the floor, and children should be warned against standing or playing next to a garage door, especially when it’s moving. Set a good example by never running underneath a closing door. Also, make sure you know how to use the door’s emergency release. Consult your manual for instructions.
Test the auto-reversing mechanism.Your door should have an electric eye aligned with the opening and mounted four to six inches off the floor. This eye will detect any obstructions and reverse the movement of the door before it hits whatever is in its way. Test this mechanism monthly by placing something in the door’s path, such as a 2×4 board, and attempt to close the door. If it doesn’t detect the object and roll back, contact a garage door service technician. Older doors installed prior to 1993 required contact before reversing, and doors installed before 1982 typically had no auto-reverse mechanism at all. Consider replacing your system if this safety feature isn’t up-to-date.
Don’t ignore a door that doesn’t open smoothly.A door that doesn’t open and close smoothly could signal an unsafe condition. If it doesn’t move smoothly even when manually operated, the spring system could be out of balance. Over time, this could cause serious problems with the entire system. It’s important to remember that the springs and cables that operate your door are under high tension, and therefore very dangerous. It’s not advisable to attempt to repair or replace these parts on your own.
These tips can help prevent accidents, but it’s also important to follow a routine maintenance plan and have your system inspected periodically. Don’t wait for a serious malfunction before having this often overlooked safety risk looked at.
