2023-12-12 6 min read Sarah Martinez
The garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in most homes, weighing anywhere from 150 to 400 pounds or more. While modern safety features have dramatically reduced accidents, garage door injuries still send thousands of people.many of them children.to emergency rooms each year. As parents and pet owners, understanding garage door safety is essential to protecting your loved ones.
Garage doors present several potential hazards:
Crushing Injuries: The most serious risk comes from the door closing on a person, pet, or object. Modern doors are required to have auto-reverse features, but these systems can fail if not properly maintained.
Entrapment: Children and pets can become trapped under or alongside a partially open door. This is especially dangerous with older doors lacking modern safety sensors.
Spring Injuries: The high-tension springs that counterbalance the door's weight can cause severe injuries if they break unexpectedly or are tampered with.
Pinch Points: Fingers and hands can be caught in the door's sections as they fold together during opening and closing.
Remote Control Dangers: Children playing with garage door remotes may inadvertently operate the door, putting themselves or others at risk.
Every garage door should have these safety features:
Since 1993, all garage door openers sold in the United States are required to have photoelectric sensors mounted near the floor on each side of the door. These sensors project an invisible beam across the opening. If the beam is broken while the door is closing, the door automatically stops and reverses.
Maintenance: Sensors should be tested monthly by placing an object in the door's path. Clean sensor lenses periodically and ensure they remain properly aligned. If your sensors don't function correctly, call for professional service immediately.
This mechanical safety feature causes the door to reverse if it contacts an object while closing. Test this monthly by placing a 2x4 flat on the ground in the door's path. The door should reverse upon contacting the board.
In case of power outage or opener failure, every garage door should have a manual release cord (typically red) that disconnects the door from the opener, allowing manual operation. Ensure all household members know how to use this feature.
Children need to understand that the garage door is not a toy. Start safety education early:
Establish Clear Rules: - Never run under a moving door, Never play with the door remote or wall button, Never put fingers near door hinges or track, Always watch the door until it completely closes, Never stand or play in the door's path
Keep Remotes Secure: Store remote controls where children cannot reach them. Treat them with the same security as house keys.
Demonstrate Proper Use: Show children how to properly wait for the door to fully open or close before entering or exiting.
Supervise Play: Don't allow children to play in or near the garage unsupervised, especially when the door is being operated.
Pets, especially cats and small dogs, may see the gap under a closing door as an escape route:
Monitor Door Operations: Never leave pets unattended when operating the garage door.
Check Before Closing: Verify your pet's location before closing the door, especially if they're known to dart outside.
Consider Sensor Height: Standard sensors are typically placed 6 inches from the floor. Small pets might pass under the beam. Some newer sensors offer smaller beam heights or additional sensors for better pet protection.
Keep Pets Away During Entry/Exit: Train pets to stay back when the door is moving. Using a gate or crate can help establish this boundary.
A well-maintained garage door is a safer garage door. Schedule these tasks:
A professional inspection catches issues that might escape untrained eyes. Our technicians check spring tension, cable condition, track alignment, opener function, and all safety features. Annual inspections are especially important for families with young children.
If your garage door was installed before 1993, it may lack modern safety features. Consider these upgrades:
Add Photoelectric Sensors: Retrofit sensors can be added to most older openers.
Replace the Opener: If your opener is over 20 years old, upgrading to a modern unit with built-in safety features, battery backup, and smart connectivity significantly enhances safety.
Install Safety Cables: If you have extension springs without safety cables, have them installed immediately. Safety cables contain broken springs and prevent dangerous ricocheting.
Add Pinch-Resistant Panels: Some newer doors feature panels designed to reduce finger entrapment risk.
Know what to do if someone becomes trapped:
1. Stop the door immediately using the wall button or remote 2. Use the manual release to disengage the opener 3. Lift the door manually to free the trapped person 4. Seek medical attention for any injuries, even seemingly minor ones 5. Do not operate the door again until it has been professionally inspected
Contact Garage Door San Jacinto if you notice: - Safety sensors not functioning properly, Auto-reverse feature failing to work, Unusual sounds or erratic movement, Visible damage to springs or cables, Any component that seems worn or loose
Your family's safety is our priority. We offer comprehensive safety inspections and can upgrade older systems to meet modern safety standards. Don't wait for an accident.schedule a safety check today and gain peace of mind knowing your garage door is operating safely.