June is Garage Door Safety Month. With support from industry leaders, including installers and manufacturers, the focus is on maintenance and awareness that garages are now the most-used point of entry. They are large, move with force, and can be a hazard if not cared for properly.
Summer is also the time when garages receive the most attention. With yard work, gardening and a host of family activities, the garage door does truly receive a workout. While today’s models are safer than ever, it is still important to know which parts to inspect and to understand the dangers that lurk every time a remote control activates the door.
Safety Tips When Operating A Garage Door:
- Keep Children Away: One of the most common safety concerns comes when children are either playing with a garage door opener or near the garage door when it’s opening/closing. Even though it may resemble a toy and many children may find it amusing to press the button, you should keep the garage door opener away from children at all times. You should also make sure they are not playing near the garage door when opening and closing it. Otherwise, serious bodily harm could occur.
- Don’t Enter or Exit While the Door is in Motion: Many times, people will try to quickly run underneath a moving garage door to enter or exit a garage. While it may be convenient, it’s extremely dangerous and should always be avoided.
- Watch the Garage Door when Being Opened or Closed: To prevent injuries, it’s ideal to watch the garage door the whole time until motion has completed stopped. This way you can press the garage door opener button to stop it in case a child, animal or other obstacle happens to go underneath it.
- Don’t Leave the Garage Door Partially Open: To optimize safety, your garage door should be either completely opened or closed at all times. Not only can a partially open garage door be an invitation for intruders, it can also fall down at any time and do damage to a person or to the door itself.
- Periodically Inspect the Garage Door: Like many other things with moving parts, the functioning of a garage door needs to be checked from time to time. For example, you should check the cables, pulleys and springs to make sure that they aren’t worn down and that they are working properly. If anything seems out of place, consult a professional to make proper garage door repairs.
A few simple inspection steps, along with minimal precautions, will keep garage doors working longer while providing a layer of protection from thefts. If you are in need of garage door repairs, contact Mid-Atlantic Door Group for a thorough garage door inspection.
