10 Tips for Garage Door Safety

RISMEDIA, June 14, 2010--There's good reason to keep the home's largest moving object in proper order. The garage door is often the largest entry point in the home. Consumers can bring garage door and opener safety awareness to the home front this summer--the International Door Association (IDA) and the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA) have designated June as Garage Door Safety Month.

Overhead Door Corporation, one of the nation's leading manufacturer of overhead garage doors and openers under well-known brands like Overhead Door, Genie® and Wayne-Dalton, is offering consumers 10 safety and security tips to be protected throughout the year.

1. Make sure the garage door opener control button is out of the reach of small children. Do not let children play with garage door remote controls.

2. Never place fingers between door sections. Explain the dangers to children and consider pinch-resistant door panels.

3. Consult the owner's manual and learn how to use the garage door's emergency release feature.

4. 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 repairman.

5. Test the garage door opener's reversing mechanism monthly by placing a 2x4 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, seriously consider a new one with auto-reverse as a standard feature.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. If the opener does not have rolling-code technology, which changes the access codes each time the opener is used to prevent code grabbing, be sure to change the manufacturer's standard access codes on the opener and remote control, or consider investing in a newer model with more safety and security features that are now standard.

9. Never leave the remote control in the car or with a parking attendant. A stolen opener or car leaves you more susceptible to home invasion.

10. Consider using a key chain remote and always lock the entry to the inside of your home, especially if your opener is programmed to your vehicle. It's a small inconvenience for safety and security.