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Top Garage Door Safety Tips for Families with Children

Garage doors are a part of many homes but can be a big safety risk, especially for families with kids. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to keep your children safe around these big moving devices. This post will cover garage door safety features, focusing on two main areas: maintenance and safety hints and setting rules while teaching your kids.

Follow these garage door safety tips, and you’ll have a safer home for your family and reduce the chances of accidents. But if you need professional garage door installation and repair services, call Up & Down Garage Doors. Our pros are here to help you create a safe and functional garage door for the whole family.

Regular Maintenance and Safety Features to Implement

Regular maintenance and safety features are a must for your garage door to work properly, especially if you have kids. Follow these practices to minimize risks:
  • Monthly inspections: Check your garage door’s components, like the cables, springs, rollers, and pulleys, for wear and tear. Listen for unusual noise during operation, which could be a sign of a problem.
  • Make a balance test: Disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway. If the springs don’t stay in place, they need to be adjusted or replaced. This test will ensure the door won’t close on its own.
  • Check the reversing mechanism. Place a sturdy object like a piece of wood in the door’s path. When closing the door, it should reverse on contact. If not, adjust or replace the mechanism right away.
  • Lubricate the device: Every three months, use special garage door oil for smooth and quiet operation and to reduce wear.
  • Ensure professional servicing: Schedule annual professional inspections to detect and solve problems early.
There are also some safety features to implement that could lead to even better and more secure operatins:
  • Install auto-reverse sensors: Make sure they are installed and working. They will stop the door from closing if an object or person is in its way.
  • Add manual release handle: Install a bright-colored handle and show family members how to use it in case of emergency.
  • Opt for keypad access: Instead of a garage door safety lock, use a keypad entry system to prevent minors from controlling the door without supervision.
Professional Servicing of Garage Doors
By following these maintenance and safety tips, you can greatly reduce the risk of accidents and create a safer environment for your kids.
  • Childproof your door controls: Install the wall-mounted control panel at least 5 feet high and out of children’s reach.
  • Add extra security: Install safety cables via extension springs to prevent injury if the spring breaks.
Professional Servicing of Garage Doors

Establish Clear Rules and Educate Your Children

So, to create a safe garage door environment, start by setting clear rules and educating your kids about the dangers. Start by telling your kids the garage door is not a toy and shouldn’t be played with. Set strict rules like never running or playing under the door, never touching the door or any part of it during the operation, and always staying aside when it opens or closes.
Teach your kids to look for the flashing lights and beeping sounds when the door is moving. Show them how to use the emergency release handle if someone gets trapped. Make it a rule that no kid can operate the garage door without adult supervision.
Teenager Using Garage Door Remote
Reiterate these safety rules and explain why they are in place. Consider making a fun illustrated chart of garage door dos and don’ts to hang in your garage as a constant reminder. Involve your kids in the safety process, and they will be more responsible and less likely to have accidents.
Teenager Using Garage Door Remote

Summing Up

Implementing garage door safety features is key to keeping your kids protected. By following regular maintenance, installing safety features, and teaching your family how to use the garage door correctly, you can greatly reduce the risks. Remember to do monthly checks, keep the mechanism well-maintained, and set clear rules for your kids. This will make your whole family safer.
Up & Down Garage Doors can help make your garage door child-safe. Our team specializes in garage door repair, maintenance, and installation. Don’t put your family’s safety at risk. Call UAD today for a full safety check and solutions tailored to you.

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Garage Door Maintenance Tips

The garage door is one of the most important parts of your home. Its functioning is responsible not only for your convenience but also for your safety. In addition, it is also the largest and heaviest moving mechanism in your home and something that you use several times a day, each day. That's why taking care of your garage doors is important. However, how often do we regularly check our garage doors? After all, this is something that we use every day in the morning while leaving for work and again at night when we return home. Usually, only during these situations do we pay more attention to certain malfunctions. Sometimes we just don't have enough time for immediate repairs. That is how minor breakdowns can become more serious over time. Due to improper use, the mechanism wears out and at some point, may stop working altogether. This causes not only many inconveniences but also affects the overall level of protection of your home. That is why it is so important to take care of any malfunctions your garage door has in time. In this article, we put together a garage door maintenance checklist to help you out, so keep reading!