Most people take their garage door opener safety for granted but there are several things to take into consideration when owning a garage door opener. Here are some helpful tips that should ensure your experience stays safe and secure for you and your loved ones:
1) Replace Old Springs – Your garage door’s springs are arguably the most important and can be the most dangerous part of your door. Springs do wear out and when they break, an injury could be the result. If you have an older garage door, have a professional inspect the springs and replace them if needed.
2) Check Your Cables – Visually inspect the cables that attach the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the door. If these cables are frayed or worn, they are in danger of breaking, which can cause injury. Due to the dangers associated with high spring tension, these cables should be replaced only by a trained technician.
3) Squeaky Springs? – Springs can squeak and be noisy. This is caused by normal wear and tear and does not necessarily indicate a problem. Before calling a professional service technician, use a spray-on lubricant. If the noise continues, call a professional garage door installer for service.
4) Safety Cables – If your garage door has extension springs, you need a safety cable that runs through the spring and secures to the wall or ceiling at each end. When your garage door is down, extension springs are under high tension. If the spring breaks, it may cause injury. A safety cable can keep that broken spring contained. If you have extension springs but do not have a safety cable, call your local dealer for a safety inspection.
5) Struggling Door – If your door does not go up and down smoothly, you may have an unsafe condition. Even older door systems should operate smoothly. If the awkward operation continues when the door is manually operated, you may have a spring system out of balance. This can cause premature wear and tear on other important door components. Spring systems are dangerous and should be repaired only by trained professionals.
Be sure not to place your fingers between the door sections to pull down on the door. If you manually open or close the door, use the handles or safe gripping points. Your garage door is probably the largest moving part in your home and is typically used everyday. Over time parts can wear out and break creating potential safety problems. Monthly safety checks and necessary maintenance are recommended. An annual visit from a trained door systems technician can keep your door operating safely and smoothly for a long time.
Author Bio: I am Aaron Lerner and my team and I write about the Garage Door Industry! We help expose all the Garage Door Hardware companies to give you the TRUTH! We provide extremely relevant information about all Garage Door Openers, Remotes, Parts, and more through our blog. Our experience of 20 years in the garage doors industry makes us an authority to provide you FREE and IMPORTANT information. For more info click here.
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