While garage doors serve many important purposes for a home, they can also present safety and security issues if they’re used improperly. Therefore, everyone in your family should be aware of how garage doors work, the risks they pose, and the various steps that can be taken to avoid injuries. Here are a few safety tips to keep everyone in your household out of harm’s way. 

3 Steps to Keeping Your Family Safe Around Garage Doors 

1. Test Safety Sensors Regularly 

All modern garage doors are designed with a reversing mechanism that causes the door to change direction if it senses anything in its path. If a person or animal were to walk under the door as it was closing, it would stop and go back up to prevent injury. Check this feature every month to make sure it’s working correctly. If a garage door doesn’t reverse or detect objects in its path, schedule repairs immediately. 

2. Talk to Your Children About Garage Safety 

Once your children are old enough to understand, explain how to behave appropriately whenever they’re around a garage door. They should stay away from a door that’s in use just in case the reversing mechanism fails. Also, teach them not to climb on the door, open and close it themselves, or place their fingers between door sections. 

3. Don’t Share Entry Codes 

If you have a garage door that uses an access code for entry, this code should not be shared with anyone outside of your family. It’s especially important to emphasize this with the children. Telling even just a few close friends can result in people having access to your home without your permission.

If you require reliable maintenance or repairs to keep your garage door working safely, contact Kalispell Overhead Door Service. For nearly 20 years, they have been providing residents throughout Flathead County, MT, with superior garage door installations, repairs, and maintenance services. Call (406) 755-4120 to request a job estimate, or visit their website to learn more about the company.