Garage doors are large and heavy, which makes them perfect for securing your vehicles and belongings. However, they can also present safety threats if maintained or operated incorrectly. Besides seeking out garage door repair services when necessary, a few simple steps can help you keep your family members safe.

How to Keep Your Family Safe Around the Garage Doors

1. Perform Regular Tests

Garage doors have several built-in safety features, including safety sensors and reversing mechanisms. These are designed to detect if a person or item is in the path of the door as it’s closing, and then stop and reverse the door if there’s something in the way.

A few times per year, attempt to close the door and then set an item in front of the sensor to see if this function works properly. If it doesn’t, call a garage door repair company to find and fix the issue.

2. Keep Kids Away From Controls

Kids don’t always check to make sure the area is clear before opening or closing garage doors, and they may be tempted to grab onto the door as it’s going up or try to slide underneath as it’s going down.

Explain to them that garage doors are not toys so they won’t be tempted to try these dangerous activities, which could also damage the door. Just to be safe, store mobile controls out of their reach and keep your key codes secret.

3. Only Open & Close Doors When the Area Is Clear

Whenever you open and close the garage, do a quick check to make sure the space is clear. Kids and pets especially should be far away from the area. Everyone in the family should be especially careful to keep fingers out of the tiny openings between garage door panels since many injuries occur due to fingers getting stuck in these areas when the door starts moving.

If you need garage door repair services to keep your family safe, contact Automatic Garage Door Repair Service in Monroe County, NY. The licensed and insured company has been serving homeowners throughout the area for more than 35 years. They provide garage door spring replacement, cable repair, and even garage door opener installation. Visit the website to see a full array of garage door repair services, or call (585) 663-1180 to request an estimate.