Since your garage door (also called an overhead garage door) is the largest piece of moving equipment in your home it is important to monitor the safety of such an essential item. Even though garage doors were made much safer after 1993 with the regulation of mandatory safety sensors (also called safety eye sensors) it is still essential to evaluate the safety of you overhead garage door and operator regularly. Here are some tips to guide you through:
- Teach children that garage doors and openers (also called an operator) are not toys. They can be dangerous!
- Never try to “beat the door” by rushing under a closing garage door.
- Never move or stand under a closing overhead garage door.
- Do not attempt to replace springs and cables on your overhead garage door yourself. These parts are under a great deal of tension and pressure. Replacing these parts should only be undertaken by those that are at an “expert level” of repair experience.
- Never attempt to bypass or circumvent the safety eye sensors of your garage door. That feature is there to protect you!
With the beginning of Summer, you should take the time to do a quick maintenance check of your garage door and opener.
Maintenance Tips:
- Balance: release the door from your opener. Lift and lower the door manually. If the garage door is heavy or difficult to lift (or lower) your door may be out of alignment. The springs (torsion springs & extension springs) may need to be adjusted. This is an item you will need to call a professional to help with.
- Look for loose parts such as brackets and rollers. Loose parts indicate a broken door is imminent. These parts are under a great deal of tension. If you identify any loose parts, you’ll want to call and have the situation remedied.
- Check the cables. Look for any rust build-up after the winter. Look for any fraying at the ends. Rusty or frayed cables are cables that are about to break. Broken cables will cause the door to be stuck up/down.
- Check the safety-reverse of the operator. Place a roll of paper towels on the ground. Close the garage door with the opener. If the garage door does not bounce back up when the door meets the object, the safety feature is not functioning properly.
- Lubricate your garage door regularly. Your garage door should be smooth and quiet when going up and down.
- Don’t forget, your garage door opener uses electricity. Make sure you use care when working with your equipment. It’s recommended only a trained professional repair your opener.
- Just like your car, your garage door needs to be tuned up on a regular basis to ensure long lasting operation. Schedule your tune-up today!