2024-12-20 6 min read
Your garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. While modern garage doors include numerous safety features, understanding potential hazards and proper safety practices is essential for protecting your family.
Garage doors weigh between 150 and 400 pounds or more. When combined with the tension stored in springs and the force of automatic openers, the potential for injury is significant if safety precautions aren't followed.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of people are injured by garage doors each year. Most injuries are preventable through proper maintenance, testing, and awareness.
All garage door openers manufactured after 1993 are required to have an auto-reverse feature that stops and reverses the door if it contacts an object while closing.
How to test: Place a 2x4 board flat on the floor in the door's path. When the door touches the board, it should immediately reverse. If it doesn't, have the opener serviced immediately.
These infrared sensors, mounted near the floor on both sides of the door, create an invisible beam. If anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, it reverses automatically.
How to test: While the door is closing, wave your foot through the sensor beam. The door should immediately reverse. Keep the sensor lenses clean for proper operation.
Every automatic garage door opener has an emergency release that allows you to disconnect the door from the opener and operate it manually. This is essential during power outages or if the opener malfunctions.
Know where it is: The emergency release is typically a red cord hanging from the trolley. Practice using it so you're prepared in an emergency, but only disengage when the door is closed to prevent it from crashing down.
Children are particularly vulnerable to garage door accidents. Teach these important lessons:
Children should never play near a moving garage door. Establish a rule that everyone stands clear until the door has completely opened or closed.
Garage door remotes and wall buttons are not toys. Keep remotes out of reach of young children and explain that the wall button is not for playing.
Running under a closing door is extremely dangerous. Even with safety features, there's a risk of injury if someone tries to beat the closing door.
Children should never hang on the door or try to ride it while it's moving. The weight and force can cause serious injury.
Garage door springs are under extreme tension and are one of the most dangerous components of the system:
Spring replacement and adjustment should only be performed by trained professionals. Springs can cause serious injury or death if they break or are mishandled.
Visually inspect your springs for signs of wear, such as gaps between coils, rust, or stretched sections. If you notice any issues, call a professional.
Listen for loud bangs (which can indicate a broken spring), notice if the door feels unusually heavy, or observe if the door won't lift at all. These signs mean it's time to call for service.
Never walk away from a closing garage door until it has completely closed. This ensures the door closes properly and allows you to respond if anything goes wrong.
Store items away from the door's path and don't let clutter accumulate where the door opens and closes.
Monthly testing of auto-reverse features and photo-eye sensors takes just minutes and can prevent accidents.
Regular maintenance keeps all safety systems working properly. Replace worn weather stripping, keep sensors clean, and have professionals inspect the system annually.
If someone is caught under a closing door: 1. Pull the emergency release immediately 2. Lift the door manually (it may be heavy) 3. Call for help if you cannot lift the door 4. Seek medical attention for the trapped person
If a spring breaks while the door is open: 1. Do not attempt to close the door manually 2. Keep everyone away from the door 3. Call a professional immediately 4. Do not use the door until it's repaired
1. Use the emergency release to disconnect from the opener 2. Operate the door manually 3. Secure the door with a padlock through the track if security is a concern 4. Remember to reconnect the opener when power returns
If your garage door system was installed before 1993, it may lack modern safety features. Consider upgrading to a new opener with current safety technology. The investment is worthwhile for your family's protection.
At Garage Door Menifee, we prioritize safety in every installation and repair. Our technicians ensure all safety features are properly configured and explain how to test and maintain them.
If you have concerns about your garage door's safety or want to upgrade to modern safety features, call us at (951) 336-8429. Your family's safety is our top priority.