Garage Door Safety
Garage Door Safety
A garage door is the largest moving object in the home. It is often operated by electric garage door openers. Proper installation, operation, maintenance and monthly testing of the garage door and garage door opener are necessary to provide safe, trouble-free operation. An improperly operating garage door can lead to serious injury or even death from being hit by a closing garage door.
Garage Door System Safety Tips
Don’t Stand or Walk Under Moving Door
Garage doors can exert deadly force. No one should try to walk under a moving garage door. In the event of an emergency, make sure you know how to use the emergency release should someone become pinned under the garage door.
Garage Door Openers Are Not Toys
As a safety precaution, make sure all openers or transmitters are out of reach for children or anyone who they may cause harm.
Push Button Wall Controls Should be Mounted High
To ensure small children can’t reach the wall control button for your garage doors, make sure to mount them at least 5 feet from the floor.
Wait Until Your Garage Doors Close Completely
For safety reasons, make sure you watch the garage door completely close when using your electronic opener. This ensures children or pets are safe from the possibility of injury from a closing garage door.
Watch Your Fingers
Pinching of fingers is one of the most common garage door injuries throughout households. Never place your fingers under the door or in-between the door sections. Use the attached hardware on your doors when needing to open or close them manually.
Garage Door Maintenance
Replace Old Springs
Springs on a garage door are by far the most dangerous part on your garage door. Make sure to properly inspect and replace all springs at the same time to ensure proper and safe functioning of your garage door system.
Check Your Cables
Complete visual inspections of the cables attaching the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the garage door. Should you see any fraying or wear on the cables, replace them immediately.
Listen for Squeaky Springs
Springs can make squeaky noises after multiple closures. This does not necessarily mean the springs need replacing. First, spray a lubricant designed for garage doors onto the springs. Should the noise continue, call a professional garage door dealer for service.
Have extension springs? Then you need a safety cable!
Safety cables run through the spring and secure to the wall or ceiling. Should a spring break due to the extreme tension they’re under, injury could occur. A safety cable can keep the spring contained, reducing the risk of someone getting hurt.
Upgrade Your Tracking System
Is it really worth saving a few bucks if someone gets injured When replacing an old garage door, homeowners often question whether they should replace their old tracking system. Since several factors impact the functionality of the garage door system, new tracking is suggested when replacing your garage doors.
Service Your Garage Doors Regularly
Waiting until someone gets injured from your garage door is not the time to think about servicing it. As a responsible garage door owner, you should have your doors properly serviced on a rotating basis to ensure safety of those using this entrance to your home.
Garage Door Opener Safety Tips
Let the Experts Help!!!!
A trained garage door expert should install your opener to ensure proper installation and safety guidelines are met. Local garage door companies are available for maintenance checkups. They are usually less than $100.
Complete Closure is Key
When closing a garage door with your automatic garage door opener, you should watch the door completely close before walking away for best safety practices. Leaves or snow can activate the reverse feature leaving your garage and home unsecured at night.
Install an Opener Reinforcement Bracket
If you want to prevent damage to your garage door, this is an important step and can be completed by following your installation instructions.
More Power From An Opener May Not Be Needed
If your garage door seems heavy and off kilter, the door is probably out of balance. Before you jump to a more powerful opener, a simple adjustment from a trained garage door technician could do the trick.
Release Cord
The garage door operator should have a red cord that allows you to disengage the connecting arm from the chain or belt drive traveler. This cord should be able to be reach by an adult to manually raise the door in the event that the operator fails to operate.
Sensitivity Testing
Garage door openers reverse in direction when an obstruction is thrown in its path. If your door does not reverse easily after encountering an obstruction, the opener’s sensitivity adjustment may need adjusting. This is critical, especially if you have small children or pets around. An improperly adjusted door force can cause injury to them.
Check for Safety Photo Eyes
A second safety feature on all garage doors are the photo eyes located near the floor of the garage door closing. If your opener doesn’t have its “eyes on,” it’s time for a garage door opener upgrade. For proper placement, make sure eyes are no more than 6” above the garage floor.
Keyless Code Opener Device
These devices are typically mounted on the jamb of the garage door opening on the outside. They operate on a 9V battery that needs to be changed regularly. If you are using this as the primary means of entry into your home keep in mind that if the battery is dead that you will not be opening the door with the keyless code pad. Cold weather can impact the charge in the battery. Don't get caught out in the cold.
The cover of the keyless code device usually has instructions on how to change the code. Make sure you do this once you take possession of the home, or change tenants, etc. Anyone that knows the key code will still have access until you change it. If you moved into a new home I guarantee that every subcontractor that worked on your new home knows the access code. CHANGE IT!
Burglars Won’t Stand a Chance
With technology ever evolving, burglars are getting more and more tech savvy. Since you can record some transmitter signals, burglars can access your home through your remote controls. To avoid this, you can have a rolling code which changes after every use.
Garage Door System Safety Tips
Don’t Stand or Walk Under Moving Door
Garage doors can exert deadly force. No one should try to walk under a moving garage door. In the event of an emergency, make sure you know how to use the emergency release should someone become pinned under the garage door.
Garage Door Openers Are Not Toys
As a safety precaution, make sure all openers or transmitters are out of reach for children or anyone who they may cause harm.
Push Button Wall Controls Should be Mounted High
To ensure small children can’t reach the wall control button for your garage doors, make sure to mount them at least 5 feet from the floor.
Wait Until Your Garage Doors Close Completely
For safety reasons, make sure you watch the garage door completely close when using your electronic opener. This ensures children or pets are safe from the possibility of injury from a closing garage door.
Watch Your Fingers
Pinching of fingers is one of the most common garage door injuries throughout households. Never place your fingers under the door or in-between the door sections. Use the attached hardware on your doors when needing to open or close them manually.
Garage Door Maintenance
Replace Old Springs
Springs on a garage door are by far the most dangerous part on your garage door. Make sure to properly inspect and replace all springs at the same time to ensure proper and safe functioning of your garage door system.
Check Your Cables
Complete visual inspections of the cables attaching the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the garage door. Should you see any fraying or wear on the cables, replace them immediately.
Listen for Squeaky Springs
Springs can make squeaky noises after multiple closures. This does not necessarily mean the springs need replacing. First, spray a lubricant designed for garage doors onto the springs. Should the noise continue, call a professional garage door dealer for service.
Have extension springs? Then you need a safety cable!
Safety cables run through the spring and secure to the wall or ceiling. Should a spring break due to the extreme tension they’re under, injury could occur. A safety cable can keep the spring contained, reducing the risk of someone getting hurt.
Upgrade Your Tracking System
Is it really worth saving a few bucks if someone gets injured When replacing an old garage door, homeowners often question whether they should replace their old tracking system. Since several factors impact the functionality of the garage door system, new tracking is suggested when replacing your garage doors.
Service Your Garage Doors Regularly
Waiting until someone gets injured from your garage door is not the time to think about servicing it. As a responsible garage door owner, you should have your doors properly serviced on a rotating basis to ensure safety of those using this entrance to your home.
Garage Door Opener Safety Tips
Let the Experts Help!!!!
A trained garage door expert should install your opener to ensure proper installation and safety guidelines are met. Local garage door companies are available for maintenance checkups. They are usually less than $100.
Complete Closure is Key
When closing a garage door with your automatic garage door opener, you should watch the door completely close before walking away for best safety practices. Leaves or snow can activate the reverse feature leaving your garage and home unsecured at night.
Install an Opener Reinforcement Bracket
If you want to prevent damage to your garage door, this is an important step and can be completed by following your installation instructions.
More Power From An Opener May Not Be Needed
If your garage door seems heavy and off kilter, the door is probably out of balance. Before you jump to a more powerful opener, a simple adjustment from a trained garage door technician could do the trick.
Release Cord
The garage door operator should have a red cord that allows you to disengage the connecting arm from the chain or belt drive traveler. This cord should be able to be reach by an adult to manually raise the door in the event that the operator fails to operate.
Sensitivity Testing
Garage door openers reverse in direction when an obstruction is thrown in its path. If your door does not reverse easily after encountering an obstruction, the opener’s sensitivity adjustment may need adjusting. This is critical, especially if you have small children or pets around. An improperly adjusted door force can cause injury to them.
Check for Safety Photo Eyes
A second safety feature on all garage doors are the photo eyes located near the floor of the garage door closing. If your opener doesn’t have its “eyes on,” it’s time for a garage door opener upgrade. For proper placement, make sure eyes are no more than 6” above the garage floor.
Keyless Code Opener Device
These devices are typically mounted on the jamb of the garage door opening on the outside. They operate on a 9V battery that needs to be changed regularly. If you are using this as the primary means of entry into your home keep in mind that if the battery is dead that you will not be opening the door with the keyless code pad. Cold weather can impact the charge in the battery. Don't get caught out in the cold.
The cover of the keyless code device usually has instructions on how to change the code. Make sure you do this once you take possession of the home, or change tenants, etc. Anyone that knows the key code will still have access until you change it. If you moved into a new home I guarantee that every subcontractor that worked on your new home knows the access code. CHANGE IT!
Burglars Won’t Stand a Chance
With technology ever evolving, burglars are getting more and more tech savvy. Since you can record some transmitter signals, burglars can access your home through your remote controls. To avoid this, you can have a rolling code which changes after every use.
Click on the Download File link below to receive a free Maintenance Guide from the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association International
| dasma_garage_door_checklist.pdf |