For every parent, creating a safe space for their family is a top priority. Though many homeowners add childproof sockets and locks, they often overlook garage doors. With the average door weighing several hundred pounds, they pose a significant safety hazard.
In this article, we will explore the most common garage door risks and recommend some precautions to help keep your little ones safe.
Why Garage Door Safety Measures Are Crucial for Families
Garage doors are opened and closed several times a day, but as one of the heaviest moving objects in the home, they can cause serious injuries to anyone in their path. Some of the most common dangers associated with garage doors include:
- Pinched fingers: Garage doors have multiple moving parts that can trap children’s fingers, posing a significant risk. From hinges to joints, touching a moving garage door can lead to pinches, cuts and bruises.
- Broken bones: Sliding under a closing garage door may seem like a fun game. However, these sensors are not failproof, especially if the door is not serviced, which can cause serious injuries.
- Entrapment: A malfunctioning garage door may struggle to open or close, leaving children trapped in the garage.
Effective Garage Door Childproofing Techniques
Childproofing your garage door can offer you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve taken extra precautions to keep your family safe. Below are some simple measures you can implement:
1. Installing and Testing Automatic Door Sensors
Automatic door sensors are safety devices often installed at the bottom of your garage door track on either side. They are a critical safety feature for minimizing entrapment, and their manufacturing is regulated by industry standards such as the ANSI/CAN/UL 350. The two main components of these devices are the sender, which produces the infrared beam, and the receiver, which receives and interprets the signal.
As you close the garage door, the sender releases the beam directed to the receiver. If there is an object obstructing the beam path, the signal is interrupted, and the receiver will instruct the opener to reopen the door. Having a sensor limits the chances of the garage door closing if your child, pet or vehicle is under it.
To ensure the sensor will work as it is supposed to, you can run a simple three-step test:
- Open the garage door and remove any objects that could block the sensors, including clearing away any cobwebs and dirt around the lenses.
- Confirm the sensors are properly aligned. If they are misaligned, you will notice a flickering indicator light. You may need to keep gently realigning them until the light remains steady.
- Close the garage door. As it is closing, wave your hand in front of the sensors or throw any object to interrupt the signal. If the door continues closing, there is a problem with the sensors. You may need professional repairs.
2. Adding Childproof Garage Door Accessories
Accessories like garage door locks make it more difficult for your children to open the garage door without supervision. The most common locks are made of metal and feature a latch that attaches to the track, preventing the door from opening remotely or manually. The only downside to this accessory is the unnecessary strain it may place on the opener if you forget to release it before opening the door.
A better alternative is the smart lock feature that comes with most modern openers. This helps you maintain child safety through the garage door openers by letting you lock the opener, ensuring the door will not open using a remote or wall switch. If you have a keypad and remote, remember to mount them a little higher on the wall to keep them out of reach.
3. Performing Regular Inspections
Garage door maintenance is one of the best ways to prevent injuries. By inspecting your door regularly, you can confirm it functions as intended and catch issues that could grow into more costly repairs.
To improve child safety around garage doors, start with a simple visual inspection of all components. Check the hardware for signs of wear and tear. Are the rollers wobbly or chipped? It may be time for a roller inspection and replacement. Do you hear loud squeaks when you open the door? Lubricate moving parts with a lithium-based grease.
4. Partnering With Professionals for Safety Checks
While there are some maintenance tasks you can do yourself, certain aspects of garage door maintenance are better left to professionals. For example, you should never DIY torsion spring replacements. Due to the immense stress they are under, garage door springs are exceptionally dangerous for untrained professionals.
Scheduling annual maintenance with an experienced team, such as Liberty Door and Awning, is a great precaution to limit safety hazards. Our experts will conduct comprehensive assessments and take care of any necessary repairs to improve your system’s safety and longevity.
Tips for Creating a Child-Friendly Garage Environment
In most homes, garages serve as multifunctional spaces beyond just protecting your vehicle. They can be a storage space or even a workshop. These tips will help childproof the area, no matter its function:
- Keep it clutter-free: One child safety tip around the garage is to keep it clutter-free, especially around the door. Install wall shelving, racks and hooks for toolboxes, bicycles and other items. Organize the space to ensure any hazardous materials, like chemical cleaning agents or fuel, locked up and out of reach to reduce the risk of spills or accidents.
- Talk to your child: Teach your kids about the dangers of garage doors using interactive and age-appropriate methods. When you open the door, turn the hands-off technique into a game. You can count down from when the door opens to see who is the fastest to lift their hands. It may help to demonstrate the dangers of trying to beat a closing garage door so they understand that the sensor is a precautionary measure — it doesn’t eliminate the risk.
- Add signage: Consider placing bright stickers or easy-to-understand signs outside the garage door to mark an end-of-zone area that your child shouldn’t cross, even while playing outside.
Take the Next Step Toward a Safer Garage Door
Protecting your family starts with a safe garage door. From installing automatic sensors to ensuring a child-friendly environment, there are several precautions you can take to help prevent hazards.
At Liberty Door and Awning, we offer superior repair and maintenance services to help you restore the functionality of your garage door. As garage door and awnings experts of NJ since 1968, we have the experience to help you maintain your garage doors and opener to keep your family safer and give you peace of mind. Schedule a maintenance service today.