2026-01-20 5 min read
Garage doors are the largest and heaviest moving object in most homes, weighing anywhere from 150 to over 400 pounds. While modern garage doors include numerous safety features, accidents still happen every year, resulting in thousands of injuries. Understanding and implementing proper safety practices can protect your family from potential harm.
Modern garage doors are equipped with several important safety features that homeowners should understand and maintain:
Photo Eye Sensors are located near the bottom of the door track on both sides. These sensors create an invisible beam across the door opening. If anything breaks this beam while the door is closing, the door automatically reverses. Test these sensors monthly by waving a broom handle through the beam while the door is closing.
Auto-Reverse Mechanism causes the door to reverse if it encounters an obstruction while closing. This feature should be tested monthly by placing a 2x4 board flat on the ground in the door's path. If the door doesn't reverse upon touching the board, contact a professional for adjustment.
Manual Release allows you to disconnect the door from the opener in case of a power outage or emergency. Familiarize yourself and all family members with the location and operation of this feature.
Performing a quick monthly inspection can identify potential problems before they become dangerous. Here's what to check:
Visual Inspection: Look at all the hardware including springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for signs of wear. Cables should not be frayed, and springs should have no gaps between coils. Never touch or attempt to adjust springs or cables yourself.
Balance Test: Disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway. A properly balanced door should stay in place. If it falls or rises, the springs need professional adjustment.
Force Test: Place a roll of paper towels in the door's path and close the door. The door should reverse upon touching the obstruction. If it doesn't, the force settings need adjustment.
Reversal Test: While the door is closing, hold the bottom edge. It should reverse immediately upon sensing resistance.
Children are naturally curious and may not understand the dangers of garage doors. Teach them these important rules:
Never run under a closing garage door. Even with safety features, this is dangerous and can lead to injury.
Don't play with or near the garage door. The tracks, springs, and moving parts can pinch fingers or catch loose clothing.
Keep fingers away from the sections of the door. The hinges between panels can pinch badly as the door moves.
Never touch the garage door remote as a toy. Store remotes out of children's reach.
The emergency release rope is not a toy. Only adults should operate it in genuine emergencies.
Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your garage door but also ensures safe operation:
Lubricate Moving Parts every six months using a garage door-specific lubricant or white lithium grease. Apply to rollers, hinges, springs, and the opener's chain or screw.
Tighten Hardware as the vibration of daily use can loosen bolts and screws. Check and tighten all brackets and fasteners twice a year.
Keep Tracks Clean by wiping them with a damp cloth to remove debris. Don't lubricate the tracks as this can cause the rollers to slip.
Replace Weatherstripping when it becomes cracked or brittle. This protects against weather, pests, and can prevent gaps that might allow fingers to get caught.
Some garage door issues should only be addressed by trained professionals:
Spring Problems: Garage door springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury if they break or are improperly handled. Never attempt to adjust or replace springs yourself.
Cable Issues: Like springs, cables are under high tension. Frayed or broken cables should be replaced by professionals only.
Off-Track Doors: A door that has come off its tracks should not be operated until a professional can realign it.
Electrical Issues: Problems with the opener, wall controls, or sensors should be diagnosed and repaired by qualified technicians.
Know what to do in garage door emergencies:
If someone is trapped under the door, immediately pull the emergency release and lift the door manually. Call 911 if someone is injured.
If the door won't close during a power outage, use the manual release and close the door by hand. Lock it manually until power returns.
If you smell burning or see sparks from the opener, disconnect power immediately and call a professional.
At Garage Door Shelton, we prioritize safety in every service call. Our technicians are trained to identify and address safety concerns, and we can help ensure your garage door system meets current safety standards. Contact us for a safety inspection today.