We all know what to do if we catch on fire (stop, drop, and roll) or what to do when crossing a street (look both ways), but do you know the steps to ensure your garage door is running safely?
May is Garage Door Safety Month and at Top Quality Doors, we want to join the International Door Association’s initiative of informing families on proper garage door safety methods! Luckily, there is a quick and easy way to remind yourself of the steps for garage door safety: Look, Listen, Learn & Remember.
LOOK
Look at the garage door, springs, cables, and rollers for wear and tear. If your garage door is struggling to operate, it is likely you’ll be able to see the problem whether that be a broken spring or loose cables. However, if you’re having trouble immediately recognizing the issue, call a professional to help you identify what to look for.
In addition to visually checking your garage door for obvious signs of distress, you should also remember to keep a careful eye on your fingers when you are manually operating the door! Keep them away from moving parts to prevent a painful pinch.
LISTEN
As your garage door operates, listen for grinding and scraping sounds or any sound that seems out of the ordinary. There are many reasons your garage door may be making some hideous noises, including misaligned tracks, parts needing lubrication or replacement, broken springs, and failing parts. However, don’t worry about these garage door issues because we can help identify the problem and get you back on track!
LEARN
There are many safety tips to add to your garage door knowledge, including keeping the garage door opener or remote control out of reach of children. These days, garage doors are built with lots of safety precautions in place to prevent injury, but they still should not be operated by kids without supervision. Make sure you also keep your fingers and hands away from door sections and moving doors – it’s very easy to get pinched if you aren’t paying attention! Finally, make sure you keep your garage doors closed and move your remote controls out of sight to help deter theft.
REMEMBER
Remember, if you find any concerns regarding your garage door then you should contact a trained garage door professional (that’s us). We would be happy to assess the safety of your garage door, find ways to fix it, or even replace it with a brand-new door that will be the talk of the neighborhood!
While garage doors are a standard part of most homes, never forget that they are still very large, very heavy, and very dangerous machinery. If you have any questions or need help, call us anytime at 405.579.3667. And in the meantime, make sure you Look, Listen, Learn & Remember!
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Sources: International Door Association
