2025-01-05 7 min read Mike Johnson
Garage doors are the largest moving objects in most homes, weighing between 150 and 400 pounds. While modern garage doors include numerous safety features, accidents can still happen.especially when safety guidelines aren't followed. Here's what every family needs to know to stay safe around garage doors.
Garage door accidents send thousands of people to emergency rooms each year. The most common injuries include:
- Crushing injuries: When a door closes on someone or something - Finger entrapment: Fingers caught between door sections - Falls: From ladders while working on doors or from children hanging on doors - Impact injuries: Being hit by a malfunctioning door or broken springs
Children and pets are at the highest risk because they may not understand the dangers or react quickly enough to avoid them.
Modern garage doors include safety features that have significantly reduced accidents. Make sure yours are working properly:
Since 1993, all garage door openers sold in the U.S. must include an auto-reverse feature. This causes the door to immediately reverse if it contacts an object while closing.
How to test it: Place a 2×4 flat on the ground where the door would close. When the door touches the wood, it should immediately reverse. If it doesn't, the opener needs adjustment or repair.
These sensors create an invisible beam across the door opening. If anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, it will reverse or stop.
How to test it: While the door is closing, wave a broom handle through the sensor beam. The door should stop and reverse immediately.
Maintenance tip: Keep sensors clean and properly aligned. They should be no more than 6 inches off the ground.
Every electric garage door opener has a manual release.usually a red cord hanging from the opener track. This allows you to open the door manually during power outages or emergencies.
Know before you need it: Make sure every family member knows where the release is and how to use it.
Children should understand that the garage door is not a toy. Teach them:
1. Never stand, walk, or run under a moving door: Wait until the door has completely stopped before moving underneath it.
2. Don't play with the remote or wall button: Garage door openers are not toys.
3. Keep fingers away from door sections: When the door moves, gaps between panels can trap fingers.
4. Never hang on the door: The door is not designed to support weight and can cause serious injury.
5. Stay away from the door tracks and springs: These parts are under high tension and should only be touched by professionals.
6. Always watch the door close completely: Don't leave until you've seen the door fully close.
Regular maintenance helps ensure safety features work when needed:
A trained technician can:
- Adjust spring tension, Lubricate moving parts, Tighten hardware, Check the balance of the door, Inspect and adjust safety features, Identify wear that could lead to failure
1. Don't panic: Most doors can be manually released 2. Use the emergency release: Pull the red cord to disconnect from the opener 3. Carefully lift the door manually: Get help if needed 4. Seek medical attention: Even if injuries seem minor
1. Disconnect the opener: Use the emergency release 2. Don't attempt to force the door: You could make the problem worse 3. Call a professional: Spring and cable issues are dangerous
1. Don't try to open the door: It may be too heavy for the opener 2. Never attempt DIY spring repair: Garage door springs are under extreme tension 3. Call a professional immediately: This is not a repair to postpone
Beyond the door itself, make your garage a safer place:
- Keep the opener remote secure: Don't leave it in vehicles parked outside - Change the opener code periodically: Especially if you've given it to service providers - Install motion-sensor lighting: Helps you see potential hazards - Keep the garage floor clear: Reduces tripping hazards and ensures the door can close properly - Secure toxic materials: Keep chemicals, paints, and fuels locked away from children
Garage door safety is about awareness, maintenance, and education. By ensuring your safety features work, teaching your family about the risks, and addressing problems promptly, you can enjoy the convenience of your garage door without worry.
If you have concerns about your garage door's safety features or it's been a while since your last inspection, contact Garage Door Santa Ana. Our technicians can ensure your door is operating safely and make any needed repairs.