Due to the amount of damage that can be done if a garage door is broken, Hollywood-Crawford Door Company recommends an annual inspection. However, even without yearly inspections, there are many precautions that you can take to ensure that your garage door operates smoothly and keeps your home secure. At Hollywood Crawford, we want you to be fully informed on how to keep your home’s garage door working to keep your home safe. Below are some safety tips to remember when operating the heaviest machinery in your home.
Garage Door Opener
In order to keep adults and children safe, place the garage door opener out of reach and never allow it to be used as a toy. If you park your car outside, never leave the opener inside your vehicle, otherwise you can risk a home invasion. Instead, consider using a key chain remote to decrease the chances of leaving it in your car or make it a habit to lock all entrances of your home. Make sure the garage door opener has the safety sensors and they are properly mounted on either side of the garage door and no higher than 6” from the floor.
Personally Inspect
In order to keep the garage door up to standards, visually inspect the various parts such as springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for signs of wear and tear. If the parts are in good condition, test the door’s reactive skills. The garage door opener’s reversing feature should be tested monthly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you don’t have your garage door opener’s instruction manual, most can be found online.
In order to avoid damaging your garage door, check to make sure your garage door is properly balanced by lowering the garage door first until it is completely closed. Please do not disconnect the garage door from the garage door opener when the garage door is in the up position because if the garage is not properly balanced it could come down very fast and could cause serious injury or even death. Then disconnect the garage door opener from the garage door by pulling on the emergency release cord. A properly balanced garage door should sit on the floor, stay partially open about 3’ – 4’, and when raised all the way up the bottom of the garage door should stay about even with the garage door opening.
If a garage door does not seem to be properly balanced please call a garage door professional to check and adjust the counterbalance springs. Never attempt to adjust the counterbalance springs on a garage door yourself because they are under extreme tension and cause serious injury and even death. If a garage door has a garage door opener, then locks should be disabled, and any ropes should be removed.
Keep Garage Closed
Always completely open or close your garage door when using it. If the door is left partially open, it could retract and injure something in its path once activated again. Keeping the garage door closed will also help protect any items you may have in the garage from being stolen. When going on vacation, you can engage the vacation lock switch on the garage door opener wall control panel, if it is so equipped, for added security.
Be Cautious
Always wait to walk or drive into a garage that is completely opened. Never step, walk, or run under a garage door that is in the process of opening or closing. Never put fingers in between the slits of a garage door.
When to Call a Professional
If your home’s garage door is sticking, has broken springs, panels or cables, doesn’t appear to be properly opening or closing, or any other problem that you are unsure about, be sure to call a professional for help. Garage doors can be incredibly dangerous and repairs are often best left to a garage installation and repair company such as Hollywood-Crawford.
If you have any questions about your garage door, need help with an installation, repair, or maintenance, be sure to call Hollywood Crawford for help! Contact us today to learn more about the great services we offer to the wonderful residents of San Antonio.
