The home garage was designed to have space in your home for storage, parking the family car, or home projects. But because of the design of the garage door, there are safety hazards that the homeowner should be aware of to keep friends and families safe. Here is a list of garage safety tips that you should take into account when conducting any activities or projects in the garage space.
- Garage Door Opening Switch: In the event of having small children spending time in the garage because of arts and craft projects, make sure that the garage door switch is placed out of site and somewhere they are not able to reach.
- Emergency Release: Every garage door has an emergency release switch. Check the owner’s manual to locate where the emergency release switch is and how to operate it.
- Routine Maintenance: Every month, inspect the garage door for any loose wiring, cables, springs or signs of wear. Do not try to repair these components yourself, instead contact a garage door specialist for more information.
- Reversing Mechanism: Monthly check the garage door reversing mechanism and test if it is in proper working order. Test by placing a roll of paper towel at the closing point of the garage door. If the garage door makes contact with the paper towel and does not immediately retract, call a garage door specialist.
Leaving the Door Partially Open: Do not leave the garage door partially open, it is difficult to determine if the garage door is currently on its way down or retracting back upward. It is also a smart idea to keep the garage door closed for safety issues in fear of home invasion.
