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Although your garage door plays a vital role in safeguarding your vehicle and other property, it can also pose a threat to children. It’s important to go over some basic safety precautions if you have little ones at home, not only so they recognize what to do in a serious situation but also to help them realize the door and its components are not toys. Here’s what you can do to protect kids from injury.

Have a Safety Conversation

garage doorIf your children are old enough to play outside alone or with friends, have a conversation with them about basic garage door safety. Remind them that they should never close the door if there is something standing in its way, whether it’s a person or an object; this typically only applies to older kids who can reach the control button or have access to an opener. Warn them about leaving toys or bikes in the path of the door, too, and remind them that the opener is not a toy. The key is to establish a few basic rules so that they understand what to do and avoid.

Schedule Standard Maintenance

You can take additional precautions by hiring a repair technician to inspect your door. They’ll test the door for basic structural and operational issues, including its alignment and balance, and ensure that there are no loose parts. The most critical safety feature is a reversing device that detects objects in the path of the door; if such an obstacle is discovered, the door will simply reverse back up to prevent injury to anyone or anything in the way. You can test this function by placing something soft, like a towel or a roll of paper towels, on the ground. If the door doesn’t sense its presence and continues to push down, contact a residential overhead door specialist immediately to investigate the problem.

 

Has it been a while since your last garage door inspection? Turn to the experts at Southside Garage Door in Rosemount, MN. These qualified professionals offer over 25 years of industry experience and can handle everything from standard maintenance to garage door repairs. They will take every step to make sure the door is safe to use. Visit them online to learn more about their products and services, or call them at (651) 423-7444 to schedule an appointment.

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