Garage doors have come a long way, and they’ve been outfitted repeatedly to sustain heavy winds, freezing temperatures and break-ins. That said, they’re still vulnerable to the test of time. To secure your belongings, fortify your household and protect your family, make sure the following garage door safety features are secured year-round:
Manual Controls
Even if your garage door is powered by an intuitive, durable automation system, it should still be accessible via manual controls. Manual controls ensure accessibility during power outages, securing your access. They’re also imperative for family homes. Your garage door’s manual release mechanism gives you full functionality, so you’re always in power—even when the power, itself, has gone out.
An Auto-Reverse Function
Your garage door’s auto-reverse function, meanwhile, changes your door’s directional movement. It’s important in regards to protecting objects—or people—from the door’s weight. Any residential garage door made on or after 1993, per Cornell Law School, needs to have this safety feature. That said, you should check up on your auto-reverse feature every so often. Place a disposable solid object in your door’s path and make sure the door reverses upon impact.
Garage Door Tracks
Tracks aren’t just a safety feature—they’re part of what allows your garage door to open and shut, period! We’ve written an entire blog that details the complexities of this part, so check it out for the full scoop.
What you need to know in terms of safety: your garage door tracks are the physical pieces that guide the door along the same path each time. They work a bit like bumpers at the bowling alley, making sure it doesn’t stray outside of its ideal parameters. When these tracks are bent or misaligned, though, this puts excess strain on the garage door—and any excess stress outside of what the door is designed to handle will create a safety issue.
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to notice if your garage door tracks aren’t working correctly. The first sign, aside from obvious physical damage, is a noisy garage door—though, as we cover in our blog, this isn’t always the case. You can also look for a door that opens and closes at an uneven rate, or one that won’t fully open or close altogether.
Garage Door Cables
Another topic which we’ve covered in detail in our blog, your garage door cables work in tandem with your garage door spring to raise and lower your door. When they start to fray, though, they put anyone in the presence of the door at risk for some serious whiplash, not to mention being crushed. Luckily, though, garage doors come equipped with a second set of cables that can help keep you safe. Garage door safety cables are designed to minimize whiplash and act as a failsafe should your other cables give out on you. That being said, they can’t lift your garage door, so it’s important to take care of both sets of cables for your own well-being and convenience.
Movement Detection Technology
Finally, you should make sure your garage door’s motion detection technology is fully functional. Your door’s motion detection technology engages your door’s auto-reverse function. By transmitting an infrared light beam as your door closes, your door’s movement detection technology safeguards your children. Your motion detector has an “eye” which must be kept clean. If it isn’t, it may not register any movement—resulting in a dangerous environment.
How Do I Test my Garage’s Door’s Safety Features?
Every residential garage door installation, repair and check-up is deserving of safety. If you’re ordering spring replacement, cable replacement or even a garage door opener repair, make sure any children or pets are safely out of the way.
Your garage door was made to sustain bad weather, break-in attempts and even small-scale collisions. That said, your door might take some damage over the years. Stay up to date with your property’s needs, and talk to your provider before changing any electrical components.
You should also check your garage door opener’s batteries once every six months, and double-check your door’s structural integrity after any storm.
Door Power: We Deliver on Great Garage Door Service
Has one of your garage door’s safety features quit on you? Our team of technicians is here to help, offering five-star, frequently-same-day service. Reach our Norwood Young America office today at 952-467-3199.