Garage doors are heavy pieces of machinery with several moving parts that can cause serious injury or even death. So, if you have young children, it’s important to sit down and educate them on proper garage door safety. Teaching your child how your garage door works will help prevent them from experimenting with it and potentially hurting themselves. Here are six ground rules to share with your kids.

1.) Don’t go near the garage door while it’s moving

Tell your children they should never run, play, or stand near the garage door while it’s opening or closing. Remind them to stay a safe distance away in case anything malfunctions.

2.) Don’t play with the controls

Young children love pushing buttons and watching things move. However, your child should know that they should never touch the garage door opener or keypad. Garage doors are serious pieces of machinery that only adults should operate.

For added peace of mind, ensure your garage door push button is mounted five feet from the floor where your child can’t reach it. Moreover, never leave your garage door fobs or remotes unattended.

3.) Don’t climb or hang on the door

Some garage doors have reinforcement struts that look a lot like a ladder. Inform your child that climbing on these supports is off-limits. Furthermore, caution your children about hanging or “riding” on the garage door while it’s opening. This can knock the springs out of alignment and create additional dangers.

4.) Don’t TOUCH or tamper with the door springs

Show your kids what the garage door springs look like and explain that the springs should never be touched, pushed, or pulled. These parts are under high tension and could cause serious injury if mishandled.

5.) Don’t move the photo-eye sensors

Teach your kids that they should never touch the garage door’s photo-eye sensors at the bottom of the tracks. This can disable the door’s safety features and result in serious injury.

6.) Don’t place fingers in cracks, joints, and gaps

Tell your children to never put their fingers in between the door sections. As an extra precaution, you can install a rubber seal between the gaps to prevent squished fingers. Alternatively, you can invest in a pinch-resistant garage door with finger-protective panel joints.

A final piece of advice if you have older children with access to your garage door code and keypad: emphasize the importance of keeping that information confidential between only you and your family members.

Verify Safety Features

All garage doors manufactured since 1993 have auto-reversing technology to prevent them from accidentally closing on a person or object. Be sure to test this safety function monthly to keep your family safe.

With the door fully open, place a one-inch board flat on the floor, centred under the garage door. Push the remote control or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the wood. If the door doesn’t reverse, have it repaired or replaced by a professional technician.

You should also test your garage door force and balance. To do this, push up when the garage door is closing or down when it’s rising. If the door doesn’t stop, call a professional to have it inspected.

To test the door’s balance, engage the release mechanism and lift the garage door by hand. If the door is resistant, doesn’t lift smoothly, or won’t stay open three to four feet above the floor, it’s likely out of balance and requires maintenance.

Prevent Injury With Our Planned Maintenance Program

The best way to keep your child safe around garage doors is to have yours serviced by a professional at least once a year. Fortunately, Creative Door Services™ offers a flexible planned maintenance program to help you do just that. One of our technicians will periodically visit your property to complete tasks such as lubricating the door hardware and hinges, inspecting the springs, and rebalancing the system.

Garage Doors and Garage Safety Accessories in Western Canada

If you want to upgrade your garage door or improve its safety, look no further than Creative Door Services™. We carry a wide range of high-quality residential garage doors equipped with the latest childproof technology on the market. Additionally, we have a variety of garage door accessories, including door openers, operators, and access controls. Our team also provides comprehensive garage door installation, repair, and maintenance services.

For a free quote or to learn more, contact us today. We have locations in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.