Pets can be playful, but sometimes their curiosity leads them to places in your home that you want them to avoid. Playing too close to garage doors, for example, can lead to serious injuries. However, these accidents are avoidable. To make sure your critter remains out of harm’s way, follow the advice outlined here.  

4 Ways to Prevent Pet Injuries From Garage Doors

1. Make Sure Safety Mechanisms Work

All modern garage door models have special features that ensure safe operation. For example, automatic reverse mechanisms stop a door from closing if it senses an obstacle. To make sure the reverse feature functions correctly, place a stuffed animal or roll of toilet paper on the ground at the garage entrance. Next, use the fob or wall switch to close the door. Once the panel taps the object, it should immediately reverse direction. If not, call a repair technician for help.  

2. Keep An Eye on Your Animal

You should know where your pet is at all times. If your pet occasionally wanders into the garage, discourage this behavior by shutting any entrances into the garage or erecting a barrier like a gate to prevent them from entering.

3. Schedule Routine Maintenance

In addition to investing in repairs, you should also stick to a maintenance schedule for safe garage door operation. If your door hasn’t seen maintenance in some time, its springs could rust and snap, causing the panel to drop unexpectedly. If the rollers stick, the panel could come off the track, also increasing the risk of injury. A technician will replace faulty parts, check safety features and sensors, lubricate mechanical components, and provide additional solutions to improve system performance. 

4. Install a Pet Door

If you keep your garage door cracked open for your pet to go in and out, install a pet door instead to allow safer access. Leaving the door panel suspended even a crack places a great deal of tension on the springs. The coils could break while your dog is coming and going, leaving them trapped under the panel. A pet door — preferably installed outside the garage — will keep your pet safe as they come and go.

If you have garage door issues, contact the professionals at Overhead Door Co. of Lycoming County (a division of Schrader Architectural Products) in Williamsport, PA, for help. With over 50 years of combined experience, their technicians can provide repairs and maintenance for safer operation. If your current system is too damaged to salvage, they can also outfit your property with a new, high-quality commercial or residential overhead door. To schedule garage door service with “the Genuine, the Original Overhead Door Company,” call (570) 326-4749. View their products online.