4 Ways To Improve The Safety Of Your Garage Door
While having an automatic garage door is a huge convenience for a homeowner, it also brings with it a variety of concerns in terms of safety. A garage door is very heavy, and you travel underneath it every single day. An incorrectly installed garage door can cause a lot of harm, so make sure you know how to ensure it is safe.
Avoid Installing The Garage Door Yourself
Any garage door installation or repair should be done by a trained professional to reduce the chance of a mistake being made. Repairs require specialized tools or replacing parts specific to your garage door, such as torsion rods, pulleys, and springs. If you are inexperienced with garage door repair, performing an installation or repair on your own can even be dangerous. Springs need to be installed with a lot of tension, and a mistake in the installation process can lead to the spring injuring someone unintentionally. Using professional help will cost you, but your safety will be worth the price.
Use Containment Cables For Springs
Your garage door most likely uses a torsion spring or extension spring. When the latter is used, make sure that the containment cables will be installed with them. A containment cable runs through the garage door spring and works as a much needed safety net. If the spring does fail, it will prevent the spring from snapping off the garage door at high speeds and prevent the door from falling.
Inspect The Safety Mechanisms
There are two safety mechanisms in place to protect your garage door from closing on a car, object, or person. These should be inspected occasionally to ensure that they are working.
The first line of defense is the sensors. They will cause the garage door to reverse if an object crosses their path, but they can cause problems if they are not aligned properly or are dirty. Make sure the sensors are clean and pointing towards each other, and test is out by waving an object in front of the sensors while the door is closing.
If the door does come in contact with an object, it should start to reverse automatically. Make sure this safety mechanism is working by placing an object underneath the path of the door and closing it. The door should reverse when it comes in contact with the object.
If you need help performing garage door installation or maintenance, contact a professional in your area.