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Garage Door Safety & FAQ’s

Garage Door Safety

The garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. You want your garage door system to operate properly, but it should also operate SAFELY.

Here are 10 things you and your family should know about garage door safety:

1. The garage door and opener are not toys, they can be dangerous if misused, and even cause serious injury or even death.

2. Children should never be allowed to play with the garage door or its operating system. Supervise your children when in the garage. They should never stand, run or play near the garage door.

3. Adults should not allow children access to the remote controls or push button wall control for the garage door system. The push button wall control should be mounted at least five feet off the floor, out the reach of children.

4. Never stand or walk under a moving garage door. Never try to enter or exit the garage by racing under a moving garage door.

5. When opening or closing the garage door, always keep the door in view until it is fully opened or fully closed. Make certain that no adults, children or animals try to enter or exit while the door is closing.

6. Keep fingers and hands away from door sections when the door is opening or closing to avoid injury.

7. Keep your garage door properly maintained to keep it operating safely. Annual maintenance by a trained professional is recommended. (see below)

8. Remember that your garage door opener uses electricity, which can shock or kill if mishandled.

9. Never attempt to repair a garage door’s springs or cables. These are under extreme tension and can cause injury or even death.

10. If someone has backed into the garage door, it’s a good idea to have the door inspected and/or replaced. Even if the door doesn’t appear to be damaged, the operating system may have become misaligned and wear prematurely, creating a dangerous environment.

Resource: IDA, International Door Association, www.doors.org

ANSI/UL 325 2010 Regulatory Compliance

Standard for Safety Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems

To protect your family, pets, visitors and property, we use only UL 325–compliant products and follow the installation safety standards set forth in the Underwriters Laboratories 325 2010. Read more about UK325 Standard for Safety Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems or download the pdf

What are the benefits of an insulated garage door?

A garage door opening represents a large opening in your home’s thermal barrier. An insulated garage door promotes a healthier and more energy–efficient environment, an insulated garage door will help to reduce the amount of outside temperature that enters your garage, thus reducing the amount of energy required to cool or heat your home. Insulated doors also reduce noise from the exterior of your home.

What maintenance is suggested for my garage or overhead door?

While we suggest a certified professional undertake any major repairs, there are some steps you can take to maintain your door. They are:

  • Periodically lubricate your garage or overhead door track. Call 740-383-1234  to determine the best methods for lubricating your specific door.
  • Clean the frame’s weather stripping with vinyl cleaner and lubricate it once every other month with an appropriate product to keep the stripping pliable.
  • Inspect the rollers every six months and replace any that are worn or broken, or call us and have us replace them.
  • If you have painted door, periodically paint the exterior to help protect it from the elements.

What should I know about garage door durability?

Garage Door Springs

A “cycle” is one full opening and closing action. Garage door torsion springs are rated by cycle life, with 10,000 cycles as the industry standard minimum. Upgrades are available to around 100,000 cycles. The average spring breaks about every 7 to 12 years with average usage for the recommended product. If a garage door has two or more springs and one breaks, all springs should be replaced to maintain proper balance.

Garage Door Failure

The leading causes of garage door failure and/or replacement include lack of maintenance and being hit by vehicles. A proper maintenance schedule for a garage door includes lubrication of the rollers, bearings, pulleys, and springs once a year; washing painted steel surfaces several times a year; painting or refinishing wood surfaces as necessary; and making proper adjustments to the counter balance system as necessary to maintain door balance. A properly balanced garage door should be able to be stopped mid–travel without drifting down or up when operated manually.