As the heaviest residential doors, garage doors require routine maintenance and mindful usage to remain safe and functional. Some weigh up to 400 pounds, though cable, pulley, and spring systems accommodate their weight and mass. Below, review safety do’s and don’ts to avoid serious injuries and property damage.

Do:

Keep the opener out of children’s reach.

Place the door opener somewhere children cannot find it, such as in a purse or on a high shelf, and do not let them play with it. Make it clear that the garage door is not a toy and that the remote is for adult use only. It’s not a structure that children should try to run under or hang on when it’s opening.

Check safety sensors regularly.

Clean the photo eyes on either side of your garage door with a microfiber cloth to remove cobwebs, dirt, and dust. Photo eyes connect through an invisible beam. If the beam gets blocked by something, such as a person or inanimate object, the photo eyes tell the door’s mechanism to stop. This helps prevent accidents.

Perform monthly inspections.

Check the door about once a month for loose hardware, roller track debris, and worn springs and cables. Do not use the door if it shakes when it closes, if the pulleys make a strange noise, or if it has visible damage. Using a compromised door could further damage the system entirely.

Don’t:

Run out of a closing door.

Never run out of a closing garage door to avoid crush-related injuries. Some people try to run out of an overhead door when it is closing because they have misplaced their keys and do not want to leave their houses unlocked. Always wait for someone with a key or hide a spare in an unattached garage or shed instead.

Skip testing the reverse mechanism.

Test the reverse mechanism several times a year. Place a box or similar object in the path of the door, then close it. If it does not automatically reverse upon contact with the box, the reverse mechanism isn’t working and requires professional repairs.

Forget to unplug the opener unit before vacation.

Improve home security while you are away on vacation by unplugging the opener unit so no one can access the door. You can also install a vacation lock console security switch to keep the structure inoperable while you are away. 

Maintain your garage door with maintenance and repair services from Tracey Door Co. The third-generation family business serves the Greater Rochester, NY, area, providing services for residential and commercial overhead doors. Call (585) 426-6060 to schedule maintenance or learn more about services and suppliers online.