Residential Garage Door Safety Tips to Protect Your Home
Garage doors are an essential part of many homes, providing a convenient and secure way to enter and exit your property. However, they can also be a safety hazard if not maintained and operated correctly. In this article, we’ll share some essential residential garage door safety tips to help you protect your home and keep your family safe. From regular maintenance and safe operation to security and emergency preparedness, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep your garage door in top condition and avoid accidents and injuries.
Choosing the Right Garage Door Material for Residential Home
There are several garage door materials available for residential properties, each with its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few of the most common garage door materials:
- Steel: Steel garage doors is a popular choice for residential garage doors because it’s strong, durable, and requires little maintenance. It’s also available in a wide range of styles and colors, making it easy to find a door that matches your home’s exterior. However, steel can be prone to rust and denting, and it’s not the best insulator.
- Wood: Wood garage doors are a classic choice that adds warmth and character to your home’s exterior. Wood doors are also highly customizable, with a variety of styles, finishes, and stains available. However, wood requires regular maintenance to prevent rotting, warping, and cracking. It’s also more expensive than some other materials.
- Aluminum: Aluminum garage doors are lightweight, rust-resistant, and require little maintenance. They’re also a good choice if you want a modern, sleek look for your home’s exterior. However, aluminum is not as strong as steel and can dent easily. It’s also not a good insulator.
- Fiberglass garage doors: Fiberglass is a durable and lightweight material that’s resistant to denting and corrosion. It’s also a good insulator and can be painted or stained to match your home’s exterior. However, fiberglass can crack or fade over time, and it’s not as strong as steel.
Ultimately, the best garage door material for your home will depend on your preferences, budget, and other factors such as climate and weather conditions.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your garage door in good condition, and it can also help prevent accidents and injuries. During maintenance, you should check the garage door’s springs, cables, rollers, and other moving parts for signs of wear and tear. You should also inspect the tracks and make sure they’re clean and free of debris.
If you notice any issues during your maintenance check, it’s essential to address them promptly. For example, if you notice a frayed cable, it’s best to call a professional to repair it as soon as possible. It’s also important to schedule regular maintenance appointments with a professional garage door technician. Most experts recommend scheduling maintenance at least once a year.
Safe Operation
Knowing how to operate your garage door safely is critical for preventing accidents and injuries. You should always keep the garage door remote out of reach of children, and make sure they understand that it’s not a toy. You should also never try to walk under a moving garage door, and you should always keep your hands and fingers away from the door’s moving parts.
If you have an automatic garage door opener, it’s essential to test the safety features regularly. For example, you should test the photo-eye sensors by placing an object in the door’s path and checking to see if it stops automatically. If the door doesn’t stop, you should call a professional to repair it.
Security
Your garage door is an entry point to your home, so it’s important to secure it properly. You can start by making sure the door is closed and locked when you’re not using it. You can also install security cameras or motion sensors to monitor the area around your garage.
If you have an older garage door opener, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer model with rolling codes. Rolling codes change the access code every time you use the remote, making it harder for intruders to gain access to your home. You can also install a manual lock on the inside of the door for added security.
Emergency Preparedness
In case of a power outage, you need to know how to manually open your garage door. Most garage doors have a manual release lever that disengages the door from the opener’s track. You should also make sure that you have a flashlight and extra batteries on hand, so you can see what you’re doing in case of an emergency.
If you’re having trouble opening or closing your garage door, you should call a professional to inspect it. Trying to force the door open or closed can cause further damage and increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
Professional Assistance
If you’re not comfortable performing maintenance or repairs on your garage door, it’s important to call a professional for help. A professional technician can inspect your garage door, identify any issues, and perform any necessary repairs or replacements. They can also provide you with advice on how to maintain your garage door properly and prevent future problems. When choosing a garage door repair company, make sure to look for one that’s licensed, insured, and experienced in garage door repair and installation.
Choose Mike Garage Door Repair in Fort Collins for all your residential garage door safety needs. Their experienced technicians can provide regular maintenance and repairs to keep your garage door in top condition and help ensure the safety and security of your home. Call (970) 682-3353 for free estimate.
