Garage Door Safety - A simple Visual Inspection

A simple visual inspection of your garage door system can save you time, money and possible heartache.

At least once a year, you should take a few minutes to make sure that one of they largest pieces of equipment most people own is in proper working order. June is garage door safety month - so take a moment.


• Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and other door hardware for signs of wear. Call a garage door professional today, if you suspect any problems.

• A safety cable should be installed on all extension springs (the springs mounted above the track) to help contain a spring if it breaks. Call a garage door professional today, if the cables are fraying or broken.


• Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring system by the lift cable and are under extreme tension. It's OK to tighten them if they're a little loose.

• Garage door springs and cables are under very high tension. If handled improperly, they can cause serious injury and death. Only a certified technician should adjust them. Do not attempt to repair or adjust springs yourself.

Garage Door Safety - Know How to Test the Reveral Features

Garage door safety has come a long way over the years, and one key feature of all modern garage doors is the automatic reversing feature.     

First, make sure your opener has a reversing feature. It's easy to know... from the inside of the garage with the door closed you should notice two sensor "eyes" located about 6 inches above the ground on each side of the door jamb. (note: these usually have a visable red or green light)  Those sensors detect objects under the door and MUST be there and MUST be in working order.

Any garage door openers without this feature needs to 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 U.I. 325 standards.

Here's how to test the Reversal feature. (note - it's a good idea to do this every month or so).

1. With the door fully open, place a full roll of paper towels on the floor in the center of the door.
2. Push the remote control or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the roll of paper towels. (Note that the bottom part of 'one piece doors' must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing).
3. If the door does not reverse, have a certified technician adjust, repair or replace the sensors, the opener or the door.

 

Contact us for additional information. Seattle, Salt Lake, San Diego, Spokane

Garage Door Safety is Everyone's Business

A few simple precautions can protect your family & friends from potential harm. Refer to your garage door & opener's manual for details specific to the model you own. Then check the operation of your garage door & automatic opener.

Remember:  

• Garage Doors & Openers are NOT Toys. Do not let children play with remote controls, always place them out of the reach.
• Teach Your Children About Garage Door and Opener Safety. Discuss garage door safety with your children and explain the danger of being trapped under the door.
• Teach children never to play under or near an open garage door and to keep their hands & fingers clear of section joints, hinges & other door parts.
• Do not stand or walk under a moving door!
• Do not play "beat the door". It can result in serious injury.
• Know how to use the emergency release, in case someone is pinned by the door.
• When using the push button or transmitter, keep the door in sight until it completely stops moving.

Warm Weather and Open Garage Doors leads to Easy to Prevent Crime

Warm Weather and Open Garage Doors leads to Easy to Prevent Crime. As the weather begins to warm into summer, windows are opened, people are outside doing yard work, and for many, their guard is down.

It’s this time of year that local police departments want residents to take precautions to keep their belongings, and themselves, safe.
Police say they typically see an increase in car break-ins, as pedestrian activity increases and cars windows are left open or doors unlocked. Crimes of this type are easy to prevent, if belongings are removed from the car. Remember too, that for many, the garage door opener is left in their vehicle - an open invitation (and key) to your home.
Likewsie, yard work brings homeowners to the back, to cut the grass, with the garage in the front of the house exposed to theft if the door is left open. People have a tendency to work in their back yards with their garage doors open and this makes them more vulnerable to daytime burglaries.
Just remember to shut the garage doors while working in the back yard - It can be inconvenient, but better safe than sorry.

If your garage door isn't working properly - give us a call In Seattle, Salt Lake, San Diego and Spokane