Pembroke, Ma: Garage Door Safety Tips
June is National Safety Month, so The International Door
Association and the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association have designated June as Garage Door Safety Month. Your garage door is probably the single largest operating piece of machinery in the house and it is vital to your families safety, so you should make sure it is operating correctly.
The Overhead Door Corporation is offering consumers 10 safety and security tips to ensure protection throughout the year.
· Make sure the garage door opener control button is out of the reach of small children.
· Never place fingers between door sections. Explain the dangers to children and consider pinch-resistant door panels.
· Consult the owner’s manual and learn how to use the garage door’s emergency release feature.
· Visually inspect the garage door each month. Look at springs, cables, rollers and pulleys for signs of wear. Do not attempt to remove, adjust or repair these parts or anything attached to them. These parts are under high tension, and should only be fixed by a trained door technician.
· Test the garage door opener’s reversing mechanism monthly by placing a 2×4 board or a roll of paper towels in the door’s path. If the door does not reverse after contacting the object, call a qualified garage door professional for repair. If the opener has not been replaced since 1993, replace the garage door opener with a new one that has safety sensors and auto-reverse as a standard feature.
· While on vacation, unplug the garage door opener unit or use a wall vacation lock console security switch, which renders remotes unusable and is an optional accessory to most openers.
· Do not leave the garage door partially open. When activated again, it may travel downward and come in contact with an object in its path. This also compromises a home’s security.
· If the opener does not have rolling-code technology, be sure to change the manufacturer’s standard access codes on the opener and remote control, or consider investing in a newer model with rolling-code technology which changes the access codes each time the opener is used.
· Never leave the remote control in the car when given to a parking attendant. A stolen remote leaves you more susceptible to home invasion. Always lock your car when left unattended. It’s a small inconvenience for safety and security. Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1dtU1)
So please be sure to consider these tips to protect your family. And if your
unit is old and starting to fail please consider replacing it with a more energy efficient unit that will be more safe and secure.
