Garage doors are the largest moving objects in most homes. They are often operated by electric door openers. Proper installation, operation, maintenance and testing are necessary to provide safe, trouble-free operation. An improperly adjusted garage door or automatic opener can exert deadly force when the door closes. This could lead to serious injury or death from being hit by a closing garage door or from being trapped under the door.
Safety is Everyone's Business. Please take a few minutes to read the following safety and maintenance tips. Refer to your garage door and opener owner’s manuals for details specific to the model you own. (If you do not have an owner’s manual, look for the opener model number on the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.) Then check the operation of your garage door and automatic opener.
Keep your family safe and schedule your annual safety inspection and maintenance service today.
Garage door springs, cables, brackets, and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified garage door professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following the manufacturer's instructions should adjust them.
Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the garage door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the lift cable and are under extreme tension.
Torsion springs (the springs above the front of the door) should only be adjusted by a garage door professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust the torsion springs yourself.
Extension Springs (the springs along the sides of the garage door tracks) should have a restraining, or safety cable installed through them to help contain the spring if it or the load cable breaks.
Have your garage door springs replaced or adjusted by a professional.Everyday Safety Tips
Visual Inspection - Look at the garage door springs, rollers, pulleys, cables, and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems have a qualified person make repairs.
Avoid a Moving Door and Keep Hands and Fingers Clear - Do not stand, walk or run under a moving door. Hands and fingers must be kept clear from section joints, hinges track, springs and other door parts.
Do Not Let Children Play With Transmitters or Remote Controls - Garage door operators are not toys. Keep them out of the reach of children. Push-button wall controls must be mounted high enough to be out of the reach of children.
Only Operate the Door If You Can See It - Keep the door in sight until it closes completely.
Test the Reversing Mechanism Monthly - If an object obstructs the door as it is closing, the door should reverse. If your door does not reverse, have the opener repaired or replaced by a person qualified to make repairs. If your opener does not have a reversing feature it must be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features, which comply with the latest UL 325 standards. Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information.
Test the Door Balance Monthly - With the door in the closed position, and the operator disconnected, the door should lift smoothly and with little resistance and should remain open. If it doesn’t the door is out of balance, have the door system adjusted by a qualified technician.
Test the Force Setting Monthly - Following the instructions in your garage door opener owner’s manual test the force setting. If the door does not easily reverse, the force is excessive and needs adjustment by a person qualified to make opener adjustments.
These are routine safety and maintenance steps that you should follow once a month, as described in your opener owner’s manual. Make monthly inspection and testing a part of your regular routine and make garage door and garage door opener safety automatic in your home.
We can do all the testing and make all the necessary adjustments in just one service call.Teach Your Children About Garage Door And Opener Saftey
Garage door openers are not toys. Do not let children play with or use the transmitters or remote controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children. Careless operation and allowing children to play with or use garage door opener controls can lead to tragic results. Discuss garage door safety with your children. Teach them never to play under or near an open garage door. Explain the danger of being trapped under the door, and be sure you know how to use the emergency release. Teach children to keep their hands and fingers clear of section joints, hinges, tracks, springs and other door parts. CONTACT WITH A MOVING DOOR OR ITS HARDWARE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. THESE INJURIES CAN HAPPEN WHETHER OR NOT AN ELECTRIC OPENER CONTROLS THE GARAGE DOOR.
Let us know if you need more safety information or educational materials for your children.