A garage door accident can cause both injury and damage. Fortunately, many such incidents can be prevented with a little bit of work and care. Here are some easy, homeowner-friendly tips for keeping your garage door safe and how to recognize a technical problem that could eventually lead to an accident.
Test Your Safety Systems
The optic sensors on either side of the door are your first line of protective defense against an accident. Every now and then, you should check them to ensure the lights are on and the lenses are aligned properly. You can put them to the test by placing objects in between them and trying to close the garage door. It should reverse automatically once the sensors detect something in the way. If your door has a reactive safety lock system, you can test it the same way by lowering the door onto an object and making sure it stops closing once it encounters resistance.
Keep Your Door Maintained
Like any complicated machine that undergoes frequent use, an automatic garage door requires periodic maintenance. Our technicians say that once every six months is sufficient for most garage doors but it’s also important that you get your garage door looked at as soon as possible if you suspect something might be going wrong - for example, if the door starts making strange noises or moving more jerkily than before.
Do Not Leave It Open
It may sound obvious, but this is a mistake that all too many homeowners make. Unless you’re in the process of bringing something in or out of your garage, the door should always remain closed. Not only does leaving it open make it possible for it to close on someone or something, but an open garage door is also likely to attract the attention of thieves and other home invaders.
Call us today to learn more about garage door repair and ownership, or to employ our professional maintenance services.