June has been declared Garage Door Safety Month by the International Door Association (IDA) and Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA) as an effort to bring awareness to the significance of proper garage door safety. We’ll be sharing these tips throughout the month of June on our social media, but we’re giving you our full list below!

1. Check and replace old or damaged springs. Springs are one of the most important and dangerous parts of any overhead door. Springs and their surrounding parts are under significant tension and can become a lethal projectile if mishandled. We recommend contacting a professional technician to perform any intensive inspections, maintenance, and replacements. Bonus tip: if your garage door has extension springs, you should also have a safety cable that runs through the springs and secures to the wall or ceiling. This cable will keep any broken springs contained

2. Watch your fingers around joints and door sections. All overhead doors need a way to open manually and should either have pinch-resistant joints or lift handles/designated gripping points on the inside or outside of the door to protect your fingers. Make sure to never place your hands or fingers between the door sections when you’re manually opening or closing your garage; always use the handles!

3. Don’t put off repairing a failing or broken garage door. Seemingly small issues can lead to big (and dangerous) problems with a garage door. If your door does not slide up and down smoothly it could cause premature wear on the parts or springs, creating a dangerous situation. Likewise, damaged panels or old door tracks pose a falling danger if not appropriately repaired in a timely manner.

4. Give space to doors in motion. It can be tempting to race a closing door if you’ve left something inside or outside of the house, or if a child has left something in the yard or on the driveway. Even though most modern doors have safety features to prevent full impact, it’s always safer to take a few extra seconds to fully prevent any accidental pinches, crushes, or entrapments.

5. Inspect overhead doors monthly and plan for preventative maintenance. A great way to avoid most dangers is by inspecting your garage door each month and by calling a professional technician to check on your door annually. Your garage door is likely the largest and heaviest moving part in your home — proper maintenance can ensure your safety and the longevity of your door for years to come.