2023-12-20 7 min read Mike Johnson
Your garage door is a convenience we often take for granted, but it's also one of the heaviest moving objects in your home. A standard two-car garage door can weigh 300-400 pounds and moves with significant force. This comprehensive safety guide will help protect your family from potential garage door accidents.
Before we discuss prevention, let's understand the potential dangers:
The most serious risk is entrapment under a closing door. While modern doors have safety features to prevent this, malfunctions can occur, and older doors may lack adequate protection.
Garage door springs are under extreme tension. When they break, they release this energy suddenly, which can cause serious injury. Springs should only be handled by trained professionals.
Garage door sections create pinch points between panels as the door moves. Fingers caught in these areas can be severely injured.
Older openers may lack safety features. Even modern openers can malfunction if not properly maintained.
Every garage door should have these safety features:
Located near the bottom of the door track on both sides, these sensors detect objects in the door's path and reverse the door if the beam is broken.
Test monthly: Place an object in the door's path and attempt to close. The door should reverse immediately.
This feature causes the door to reverse if it encounters resistance while closing.
Test monthly: Place a 2x4 flat on the ground in the door's path. The door should reverse upon contact.
Allows you to disconnect the door from the opener for manual operation during power outages or if the opener fails.
Know how to use it: Familiarize yourself with the location and operation before you need it in an emergency.
Prevents thieves from intercepting and copying your remote signal to gain access.
Upgrade if needed: If your opener is more than 20 years old, it may use fixed codes that can be compromised.
Children are at greatest risk for garage door injuries. Establish and enforce these rules:
Adults should follow these guidelines:
1. Do not attempt to lift the door manually if the person is seriously injured 2. Call 911 immediately 3. If safe to do so, try to activate the door's reverse mechanism 4. Comfort the person and keep them still until help arrives
1. Do not attempt to open the door 2. Keep everyone away from the garage 3. Call a professional immediately for repair 4. Springs should only be replaced by trained technicians
1. Pull the emergency release cord 2. Lift the door manually from the bottom 3. If the door is heavy or won't stay open, something may be wrong with the springs, call a professional
If your garage door or opener is more than 15-20 years old, consider upgrading for better safety:
Pre-1993 openers may lack photo-eye sensors. Upgrading to a modern opener adds critical safety features.
Modern garage doors use designs that reduce pinch points between panels, significantly reducing finger injuries.
Ensures you can operate your door safely during power outages without struggling with manual operation.
Smart openers alert you if the door is left open, adding an extra layer of security and safety monitoring.
Make garage door safety part of your regular home maintenance:
At Garage Door Drain, we take safety seriously. Our comprehensive safety inspection includes:
- Testing all safety features, Inspecting springs, cables, and hardware, Checking door balance, Examining opener condition, Recommendations for any needed repairs or upgrades
Contact us at 541-250-3204 to schedule your safety inspection. Protect your family with professional maintenance from Drain's trusted garage door experts.