2024-12-01 6 min read Pro LCF Doors Team
# Garage Door Safety: Protecting Your Family and Pets
Garage doors are incredibly useful, but they're also one of the heaviest moving objects in your home. A standard two-car garage door weighs between 200 and 400 pounds.enough to cause serious injury if safety measures aren't followed.
At Pro LCF Doors, safety is always our top priority. Here's what every family should know about garage door safety.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, garage doors cause approximately 30,000 injuries annually. Most of these are preventable with proper precautions and maintenance.
Common garage door injuries include: - Crushed fingers from door sections closing, Injuries from falling doors due to broken springs, Entrapment beneath closing doors, Electrocution from faulty wiring, Cuts from broken glass or sharp edges
Modern garage doors and openers include crucial safety features that weren't available on older systems.
These sensors create an invisible beam across the door opening. If anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, it automatically reverses. Federal law has required these sensors since 1993.
Maintenance tip: Keep sensors clean and aligned. Test monthly by placing an object in the door's path.
In addition to photo-eye sensors, doors should reverse when they contact an obstruction. This feature uses pressure sensitivity to detect obstacles.
Test monthly: Place a 2x4 flat on the ground under the door. The door should reverse upon contact.
The emergency release (usually a red cord) disconnects the door from the opener, allowing manual operation during power outages or opener failures.
Important: Know where your release is and how to use it before you need it in an emergency.
1. Never play under or near a moving door. Make this an absolute rule in your household.
2. Keep remotes away from children. Wall-mounted controls should be at least 5 feet from the floor, out of children's reach.
3. No "racing" the door. Never let children run under a closing door.
4. Never touch springs or cables. Teach children that these are dangerous and off-limits.
5. Supervise in the garage. Young children should never be in the garage unsupervised.
Pets face similar risks to children around garage doors:
- Don't leave pets unattended in the garage while operating the door, Be aware of pets' location before opening or closing, Consider that some pets may chase closing doors, Cat owners should check for cats that may have entered the garage unnoticed
If your garage door was installed before 1993, it may lack modern safety features. Signs you need an upgrade:
- No photo-eye sensors, No auto-reverse feature, Springs that aren't enclosed, Worn or damaged weather stripping, Visible rust or deterioration
Investing in safety: While upgrading costs money, protecting your family is invaluable. We offer affordable safety upgrades for older systems.
Perform these checks monthly:
Look at springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for signs of wear. Don't touch.just look for obvious damage.
Wave an object (like a broom) through the beam while the door is closing. It should reverse immediately.
With the door open, hold the bottom with your hands while it closes. It should reverse with light resistance.
Disconnect the opener and manually lift the door. It should lift smoothly and stay in place when partially open.
Unusual sounds like grinding, scraping, or banging can indicate developing problems.
Some safety issues require professional attention:
- Springs that need adjustment or replacement, Cables that are frayed or damaged, Sensors that won't stay aligned, Doors that won't reverse properly, Any structural damage to the door
Never attempt spring repairs yourself. garage door springs are under extreme tension and can cause severe injury.
At Pro LCF Doors, every service call includes a basic safety inspection. We check:
- Sensor alignment and function, Auto-reverse operation, Spring condition, Cable integrity, Overall system safety
If we identify safety concerns, we'll explain the issue and provide options to address it.
Don't wait for an accident to think about garage door safety. Our comprehensive safety inspection covers all critical components and identifies potential issues before they become dangerous.
Call (424) 581-0282 to schedule your free safety inspection. We serve La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and all surrounding communities.
Your family's safety is worth the call.