While wildly convenient, it’s also important to understand that garage doors are also under massive amounts of tension. While this tension helps your garage door properly, it also comes with an element of risk. If you are a parent, grandparent, or often have small visitors to your home, you know keeping them safe is a top priority. Staying up to date on maintenance and establishing strong boundaries surrounding the garage door can help prevent the worst from occurring. Sit down with the children in your life, and teach them these easy lessons to ensure their safety while they are playing in and around the garage:

Establish Garage Door Rules

With these simple garage door rules, your family can prevent serious injuries as well as damage to the mechanisms:

• Children should understand that playing with or underneath the door, as well as leaving bicycles and other toys in the path of the garage door, is a big no-no. The area should always remain clear, especially when opening or closing the garage door.
• The remote control is not a toy, and the button should not be pressed unless intentionally operating the door. Same goes for the sensors underneath the garage door.
• If your garage door opener has a passcode, children should understand that this code should not be shared with others.
• The garage door should NEVER be touched during operation. Moving panels can pinch tiny fingers, and “riding” the garage door as it opens can lead to serious accidents.

Show Your Children How The Garage Door Works

Children are naturally curious, and love to know what is happening in the world around them. Teaching children exactly how the garage door works empowers them and may stifle any mischief that occurs out of curiosity. Show them the springs and lifting cables, explaining the pressure they are under so they know not to pluck or pull these parts. You should also spend some time explaining just how important the sensors are. Children should know that these sensors must stay aligned to keep everyone safe.

Garage safety extends far beyond the door. Remember to keep all powerful and dangerous tools securely locked out of reach. The same goes for various chemicals you may have set aside. And remember – the more educated your children are about safety, the more empowered they become.

Could you imagine if you never took your car in for maintenance? Eventually, the car would begin having serious issues. The same is true for your garage door. Despite being one of the most used items in homes today, it is often the most neglected in terms of maintenance. The good news is that you can avoid costly garage door replacement costs by performing some annual garage door maintenance today!

Keep The Outdoors OUT

One of the most important parts of garage door maintenance is that it can protect your garage from the elements. By ensuring that your garage door operates well and that weather-stripping and other protective pieces are in good shape, you can keep water and other elements out that might damage the contents of your garage.

One Buck Now Saves A Lot of Bucks Later

Believe it or not, performing annual garage door maintenance can also improve your finances. Replacing springs and brackets regularly is both easier and cheaper than replacing an entire garage door or paying for a costly repair. In addition, you can reduce the hot or cold air leaking out of your garage, which will help you save on energy bills!

Rest Easy Knowing Everything Is Working Well

Nobody wants to roll the dice every time they press their garage door opener. Keeping your garage door well maintained is a great way to boost your peace of mind. Nothing feels better than going in and out, under the garage door, knowing that the springs have been inspected and everything is working well. 

Keep Your Family Safe

By far the biggest reason to perform annual garage door maintenance! By performing safety checks on all aspects of your garage door, you can reduce the risk of injuries due to garage door malfunctions.

Uh-oh…have you been neglecting to keep up with your garage door’s maintenance? Let us help! Our professionals are standing by to assist with all of your repair and maintenance needs. Contact us today at info@adamsdoorsystems.com!

Your garage door faces daily wear and tear. And as one of the largest moving objects in your home, it’s important to ensure your garage door is secure. That’s why the experts at Adam’s Door Systems have put together a list of practical garage door safety tips to keep you and your family safe! 

1. The button for the garage door opener should be mounted out of small children’s reach. We recommend a minimum of 5′ from the floor. 

2. Prevention begins with education. Children should be shown a good example of how to safely operate a garage door. They should also be told that garage door remote controls are not to be played with.

3. Carefully read your owner’s manual to learn how to properly operate your garage door opener – especially the emergency release feature.

4. Be sure to visually inspect your garage door once a month. It’s important to pay attention to the springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for signs of wear and tear. You should also test the reversing mechanism at least once a month by placing a 2×4 board in the door’s path.

5. Never attempt to perform repairs on the garage door yourself. This is especially important for high tension mechanisms such as cables and springs. If you notice signs of damage, or the garage door does not reverse when tested, contact a qualified professional for assistance.

6. Provide an additional layer of security by installing sensors that work in conjunction with your garage door opener. These sensors, located on opposing sides along the bottom of the door, prevent the door from closing when an object breaks the connecting laser. 

7. Another important aspect of garage door safety is garage door security! Garage doors can provide uninvited access to your home if precautions are not taken. To prevent any incidents, never leave your garage door partially open. If you are going to be away from home for a while, unplug the garage door opener unit. Finally, be sure to always lock the door from the garage to the inside of your home.

Looking to repair or replace a garage door? Trust our seasoned technicians to solve your garage door problems any time. Contact Adams Door Systems today!