Neighborhood Garage Door Service of St. Louis, MO values the safety of our customers and their families. In addition, safety is valued throughout the industry. In fact, June is set apart as Garage Door Safety Month by the International Door Association and the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association. It’s their intent to spread awareness and education regarding the safe use of garage doors.
Automatic garage doors are beneficial in so many ways. They provide easy access while in your vehicle. A properly secured door adds extra protection against intruders. They can stand up against the elements and even increase heating and cooling efficiency when properly insulated.
With all the benefits they provide, it’s important to make sure they do not become a hazard to your family. You may have never thought of it this way, but your garage door is the largest moving part of your home. This means we have to be extra careful with its maintenance and operation.
In keeping with this spotlight on child safety around garage doors, here are eight tips to help you along.
Safe operation habits
- Restrict access to the opener remotes and buttons. Overhead doors and their openers are not toys and children should have ready access to their controls. Remote openers should be stored where children cannot easily access them. Wall mounted buttons should be placed five feet above the floor to keep them out of reach.
- Keep fingers and hands clear of moving parts. No part of the door or tracks should be touched while the door is in operation. Small fingers and hands can easily get caught in between panel or in the roller on the tracks. Keep clear at all times.
- Do not try to race the door. It’s unwise to push the close button and attempt to exit before the door closes. This can result in injury or even death.
- Always keep the door in sight while it’s moving. After pushing the close button, watch the door until it is completely closed to make sure no children or animals get caught under the door or in any moving parts.
Maintaining safe operation
- Keep and regular maintenance schedule. You should get into a good habit of doing a monthly inspection of your garage door. This should be coupled with an annual inspection by a certified technician.
- If your garage door becomes damaged from a collision by a car or other vehicle, have a professional technician inspect it immediately. Even if there’s no obvious sign of damage, there could be structural damage that could interfere with safe operation.
- Avoid attempting to repair the garage door’s cables or springs. The extreme tension these parts are under can cause a risk of injury or possibly death. Be sure to have these serviced by professionals.
- Do not attempt to repair your garage door opener. Automatic openers run on electricity which can result in injury or death if not handled properly. These repairs also require a professional technician.
If you are unsure about attempting any repairs, or have more questions about child safety around garage doors, call us at Neighborhood Garage Door Service of St. Louis, MO. Our courteous operators are ready to take your call and get you the help you need. We have trained service technicians that can be on site quickly to diagnose your problems and start repairs.
