Garage doors are heavy pieces of equipment, ranging from 45 to over 200 kilograms, or 100 to 500 pounds, depending on their material, thickness and insulation. In addition to their weight, garage doors have many moving pieces, making them a safety hazard for everyone in the family — from adults and kids to pets. Protect your family and avoid garage door accidents with these six safety tips!
1. Know the Risks
As a homeowner with a garage door, it is your responsibility to know how your garage door works and what risks it may carry. Review the manufacturer’s manual and inspect your garage door often to identify potential areas that could cause harm, such as hinges, tracks or signs of damage. As you educate yourself on how garage doors operate and how they might cause safety hazards, you can minimize risks of injury, protect your little ones and extend your garage door’s life span.
Modern garage doors are equipped with essential features that meet garage door safety requirements set by the UL 325 safety standard. If you have an older door, it may not meet these safety standards, putting your family at risk. Be sure to replace your old door with a high-quality option you can trust to provide long-lasting, safe performance.
2. Invest in Regular Maintenance
One of the most effective ways to keep your kids safe around your garage door is to ensure it always operates as it should. Routine checks from a professional once or twice a year are critical to maintaining your garage door’s safety while improving its longevity and efficiency. A garage door expert can assist with various preventive maintenance tasks, such as:
- Inspecting springs, cables, hinges and tracks
- Lubricating all moving parts
- Balancing of the garage door
- Adjusting the belt or chain on the garage door opener
- Adjusting the garage door force and travel limits
- Checking the battery backup system
- Making sure the door is correctly sealed from the elements
- Move objects away from the tracks or door path
While you can perform a few maintenance tasks independently, such as looking for cracks or dents in the door, clearing away dirt or replacing batteries in your remote, it is best to leave most maintenance needs to a professional. Never try to repair your garage door on your own — you could put yourself and your family at risk. If you suspect your garage door has an issue, call a professional immediately.
3. Test Sensors and Auto-Reverse Mechanism
Modern garage doors have various safety features to prevent the heavy door from crashing down on objects and people. One feature is a photoelectric, or photo eye, sensor. Garage doors have two sensors on either side of the door near the floor. One sensor sends an invisible infrared beam to the other sensor to detect if an object or person is in the door’s path.
The garage door should only close if the beam is unbroken, but the sensors can become misaligned, dirty or broken, affecting their performance. Testing the sensors every two to three months ensures they work properly to keep your garage door safe and operational. You can clean the lenses with a microfiber cloth and realign by simply adjusting the sensor by hand. If the sensor is too tight loosen the wing nut and tighten security once aligned. If damaged or aligning is too difficult, call a professional for repairs.
In addition to testing sensors, check your garage door’s auto-reverse function, which causes the door to reverse as soon as it detects a small amount of force — such as by making contact with an object or person. You can test it by trying to stop the door with your hands as it is closing. If the door is too difficult to hold onto as it closes contact a professional to fix your auto-reverse mechanism.
4. Teach Your Kids About Garage Door Safety
Protect your children by teaching them how to respect the garage and its door. Help your kids understand the dangers associated with a garage door by:
- Setting rules about when they are allowed in the garage.
- Telling them how heavy it is and how it could hurt them if it fell.
- Preventing them from climbing the door or hanging from its parts.
- Ensuring they know what they can and cannot touch within the garage.
- Allowing them to be in the garage only when a responsible adult is present.
- Showing them how they could get hurt by touching different parts of the door.
- Cautioning them to never run underneath the door when it is opening or closing.
By creating clear rules and boundaries for how your children should behave when in the garage, you can promote their safety and encourage their ability to be responsible. Always supervise your child around a garage door, and set a good example by following your own safety rules.
5. Keep Buttons and Remotes Out of Reach
Some buttons and remotes can be fun toys for children — but when it comes to garage door opener buttons and remotes, it is best to keep them far away from your kids. Little ones might think it is fun to open and close the door on their own, but allowing this could turn the button or remote into a toy they don’t take seriously. Teach your children that garage door buttons and remotes are not for play and should be respected.
Place your wall panel button high from the ground and hide remotes in your vehicle so little children cannot reach them. When your children are old enough to take on some responsibility, you can allow them to use the buttons and remotes as you teach them the appropriate times. Ensure your kids cannot use the buttons or remotes to escape the house without your knowledge.
Some garage door openers come with a mobile app for opening and closing the door. This convenient feature helps minimize the risk of a child misusing a button or remote.
6. Ensure the Rest of Your Garage Is Safe
As you focus on keeping your kids safe around your garage door, it is also beneficial to think about other safety risks in your garage. A few ways to organize and secure your garage to protect your children include:
- Keeping vehicles locked.
- Minimizing clutter and tripping hazards.
- Placing toxic or sharp items out of reach.
- Closing or opening the garage door all the way.
- Securing large items like power tools or bicycles.
- Locking interior and exterior doors to the garage.
- Preventing kids from hiding in small spaces, like cabinets or cars.
Try to keep playing with toys and riding bikes out of the garage to show your children that it is not a place to play. If you need to store these items in your garage, keep them away from the door to encourage your kids’ safety.
Update Your Garage Door With Help From Upper Canada Garage Doors
If you have an aging garage door that is putting your family at risk, update it with help from Upper Canada Garage Doors. Our friendly and experienced team will work with you to find the right door for your budget and preferences, enabling you to make an informed decision that promotes your family’s safety.
Visit our fully stocked showroom to see our Clopay® and LiftMaster garage door products in person. You can also contact us online to receive a new door quote or to discuss your questions and concerns with one of our experts.
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