How many times per day do you enter your house through the garage? If you’re like most Americans with a vehicle, chances are that you enter and leave through the garage more often than the front door. Garage doors are convenient to use—but safety is also an important consideration.
The tips below will help you brush up on your safety tactics for residential garage doors, so that your family, home and vehicles are protected:
- Keep the opener away from kids: Children are innately curious, and there’s nothing so appealing to a kid as a remote control (except, perhaps, for your smartphone). Make sure to keep the garage door openers away from your kids. Even though most garage doors have safety features to prevent accidents, there’s always the possibility that someone could get hurt. You also don’t want your kids accidentally opening and shutting the door without your knowledge. That poses a security risk. When your kids are old enough to understand, teach them how to properly operate the garage door—and emphasize how important it is to stay clear.
- Leave the door completely closed: Similarly, make sure that you keep your door completely closed when it’s not in use. Not only will that prevent insects and animals from taking refuge inside, but an open door is a security hazard. Keep your home free of freeloaders (be they animal, insect or human) by keeping the door shut.
- Learn how to use emergency features: When you get a new garage door, sit down with the owner’s manual, and learn about the emergency features—you won’t have time in an actual emergency. Many doors have automatic stopping features if they sense something is in the way of the door, which can help keep kids and pets safe. Get familiar with how they work, so you’re prepared for any unusual incidents.
- Regularly inspect your door and components: Your door needs to be properly maintained in order to guarantee long-term functionality. Mechanical and electrical components can break down without warning, especially if you haven’t maintained the door regularly. This is especially dangerous if it’s a snapped spring; they are under so much tension that when they snap, they can kill someone unlucky enough to be in the way. Have a professional stop by for maintenance at least once per year, and inspect your door monthly.
- Use professional installation services: Finally, make sure that your garage door is installed by a trained professional. Custom installation services ensure better garage door safety—you’ll rest assured that it was installed with an eye toward safety, security and functionality by someone who knows what to do.
If you’re ready to purchase or install a new garage door for your home, be sure to get in touch with the team at Action Door Service. Our trained technicians will ensure that your door is installed to maximize safety and security, and to last your family for as long as possible. Reach out today to get started.