GARAGE DOOR SAFETY – AN AUTOMATIC DECISION

June is Garage Door Safety Month - take time from your busy summer schedule and assure your family's safety. Keeping safe while enjoying summer activities is often a top priority but doing so at your own home is often overlooked.

"The largest moving object in most homes is the garage door," Gary Bechtold, President of St. Cloud Overhead Door said. "Despite the reliability and sophistication of today's automatic garage door systems, they must be periodically adjusted and maintained to stay safe."

Being mindful of your garage door opener's proper installation and operation can prevent injury or even save a life. Garage door openers are particularly dangerous to young children. Safeguard your children with a few simple precautions:

• Read and follow all manufacturers' instructions.
  
• Operate the remote control only when you can see the garage door and there are no children around.
  
• Test the auto-reverse safety mechanism often and repair faulty mechanisms immediately.
  
• Keep the remote control out of your child's reach.
  
• Wall controls must be installed at least 5 feet and out of reach from little hands.
  
• Teach your children the dangers of automatic garage doors - especially playing "chicken" or trying to slide under the door before it closes.
  
• Keep the emergency release mechanism where you can find it fast. Know how to use it.
  
• Examine the equipment regularly for signs of wear. Have all repair work done by a professional.

"Springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and other door hardware are under extremely high tension," Bechtold explained. "If they show signs of wear, it's important to have them repaired or replaced by a qualified person."

Every garage door operator manufactured since 1991 has a mechanism that reverses the door if it encounters any obstruction while closing, Bechtold added. For safety, older door operators that lack this feature should be replaced. A door that fails to reverse, could pin a child or pet, causing injury or death, he pointed out. Door reversing mechanisms should periodically be tested by the owner, or a professional garage door technician, to ensure they are operating correctly. See you owner's manual for details.

If you would like more information on how to maintain your garage door and opener or require the help of a professional inspection, please contact the professional technicians at St. Cloud Overhead Door.

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