Overhead Garage Door Safety Precautions
- Garage doors are the largest moving objects in the average home. A garage door opener that is not properly adjusted can exert deadly force when the door closes. This could cause children or adults to become trapped under the door and result injury or death.
- Proper installation, operation, maintenance, and testing of the garage door and automatic opener are necessary to provide a safe, trouble-free system.
- Careless operation or allowing children to play with or use garage door opener controls are dangerous situations that can result in injury or death. A few simple precautions can protect your family and friends from potential harm.
- Routinely check the operation of your garage door and opener to ensure they function in a safe and trouble-free manner.
- Keep your garage door opener manual handy at all time. If you don’t have the manual, you can probably find one online. Be sure to read all Important Safety Information found in the manual as it provides more details and safety considerations than can be supplied with the manual.
Children Should Be Taught That Garage Door Openers Are Not Toys
- Stay away from moving garage doors. This includes the wires, chains, belts, and moving parts.
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Keep garage door opener remote controls out of reach of children. Do not let children play with or use the remotes.
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The wall-mounted garage door opener should be out of reach of children. The control should be mounted at least 5 feet from the nearest standing surface and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the control where you can clearly see the closing garage door.
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Keep the door in sight until it completely opens or closes when using the wall-mounted control or the remote. Don’t just hit the close button and go into the house.
Routine Garage Door Maintenance Can Prevent Tragedies
Incorporate monthly inspections and tests of your garage door and opener system into your regular routine. Review your owner’s manual for both the door and door opener. If you don’t have the owner’s manuals, chances are you can find it online.
Visually Check The Garage Door and The Opener
- Starting with the door in the closed position, use the manual disconnect on the opener to disconnect the door.
- Look for signs of wear or damage on hinges, rollers, springs, and door panels.
- These parts may require periodic lubrication. Check the owner’s manual for suggested maintenance.
- If any signs of damage are evident, contact a trained door systems technician for assistance.•
- Verify the sensor “eyes” are no higher than 6″ from the garage floor.
Test The Garage Door For Proper Operation
- Open and close the door manually using handles or suitable gripping points.
- The door should move freely and without difficulty.
- The door should balance and stay partially open 3–4 feet above the floor.
- If you detect any signs of improper operation, contact a trained door systems technician for assistance.
Test The Safety Features of The Garage Door Opener
- Reconnect the opener to the door using the manual disconnect and open the door.
- Place a small item such as a shoe or brick in the path of the door and try to close it. The door should stop when it comes in contact with the item then reverse direction.
- Block the photoelectric sensor by waving an object in front of the sensor and attempt to close the door. The door should not close unless the wall-mounted push button is manually held during operation.
- If the opener does not perform as described, contact a trained door systems technician for assistance.
The Garage Shield
Have you thought about how easy it is for burglars to break into your garage by manipulating the garage door opener? The Garage Shield prevents burglars from using a coat hanger or wire to reach the emergency cord. It’s an easy installation and takes only a few minutes. Once installed, the Garage Shield allows for unimpeded use of the emergency cord and allows you to use your garage door as you normally do.
Be sure to check out THE GARAGE SHIELD. It provides an added layer of security as well as peace-of-mind against garage break-ins.
