Garage Door Safety

There are some key things to remember when dealing with garage door safety.  The garage door is often the largest of moving mechanical objects in your home, operated by an electric door opener.  First and foremost when installing a garage door, make sure to read and follow all of the instructions to the letter if you are performing a self install, or find a qualified professional service installer to help you with the process.  It is also important to keep track of the garage door opener.  Think of it like any other key to your home, and make sure to not leave it somewhere where it will be seen by people, like the visor in your car.

Make sure never to stand underneath a moving door, and don’t let children play around the door when it is moving.  Some kids think games of “beat the door” can be fun, but they can actually lead to serious injury or death.  It is important to set the right example and not try to beat the door yourself, and to explain to your children why it is important to be safe around the garage, for example, explaining the danger of being crushed by the door.  You should also never allow children to play with the garage door opener like a toy, and keep it out of reach.  The push button on the garage door wall to open the garage door should also be kept out of the reach of children, a recommended five feet off of the ground, and it should preferably be in a spot within your garage where you can see the garage door clearly and are capable of keeping it in sight until it completely closes.

You should also test the garage door monthly, by using a 2 by 4 lumber laid flat on the floor to make sure that the garage door reverses when it makes contact with it.