What Every Parent Needs to Know About Their Garage Door
Is your garage door opener more than 30 years old? If it was manufactured before 1993, it likely lacks the modern safety features necessary to protect your family, pets, and vehicles. Garage door safety has advanced significantly in recent decades, moving from basic mechanical operation to sophisticated, sensor-based protection.
Here is what every homeowner should know to keep their family secure.
1. The 1993 Safety Standard
In 1993, federal legislation mandated that all residential garage door openers include specific safety mechanisms.
Photo-Eye Sensors: These invisible beams detect obstructions in the door’s path. If a child or pet crosses the beam while the door is closing, the door automatically reverses.
Constant Contact Controls: Wall-mounted buttons were updated to require continuous contact for certain operations, ensuring a person is present to monitor the door’s movement.
The Risk: If your opener predates these rules, you are missing critical garage door safety safeguards.
2. Advanced Security in the Digital Age
Modern garage door openers offer security features that go beyond physical sensors.
Smartphone Integration: Use a mobile app instead of a traditional remote. This prevents thieves from using “clickers” left in unlocked cars to gain entry to your home.
Real-Time Monitoring: Receive instant notifications when the door is opened. This allows you to know when your children arrive home safely or if an unauthorized party is attempting access.
Remote Control: Check the status of your door from anywhere. Never worry again if you remembered to close the garage before leaving for vacation.
3. Essential Safety Habits for Kids
Technology is only one part of garage door safety. Teaching your children how to behave around the door is equally important.
Button Placement: Install your interior control button at least five feet high, well out of reach of small children.
“No-Go” Zones: Teach children to stay away from high-tension springs and side cables. These parts are under extreme pressure and can cause serious injury if tampered with.
Climbing Risks: Make it clear that garage doors are not toys. Climbing on the door or “racing” it as it closes is extremely dangerous.
Code Privacy: Treat your garage keypad code like a bank PIN. Do not share it with young children or leave it written in visible areas.
4. The Importance of Professional Maintenance
A safe door is a well-maintained door.
Annual Inspections: A quick preventative maintenance check once a year ensures all sensors and mechanical parts are functioning correctly.
Avoid DIY Repairs: Never attempt to fix high-tension springs yourself. For your family’s safety, always call a trained technician for repairs involving the door’s lifting mechanism.
Protect Your Home with Dodds Doors
At Dodds Doors, we have been the #1 rated garage door company in the GTA for over 60 years. We prioritize garage door safety in every installation, from our Canadian Series to our advanced smart openers.
Is your garage door a safety hazard? Contact Dodds Doors today at 1-877-503-6337 for a free consultation. Let us upgrade your home with the latest in garage door safety technology.