Garage Door Safety and Other Garage Door FAQs

Published on February 20, 2018

The garage door on your Canadian home makes it convenient to have a place to park your car to protect it from the elements. Homeowners also use their garages as play areas for their children, storage, workshops, arts and crafts rooms, and other purposes.

Yet if you do not carefully have regular garage door maintenance performed, the door you trust to be reliant can become a safety risk for you, your loved ones and your property. It is important to take the time to familiarize yourself with garage door basics, a topic we covered in a previous blog post.

If you are having a new door installed, you will want to spend some time with the installer to review how the door operates, along with any safety features. Aside from these precautions, we recommend reviewing the following safety FAQs.

Are garage door problems a DIY type project?

Garage doors use complex and intricate hardware to ensure they operate correctly. There are different cables, springs, chains, and other components that make up this system. These can quickly become a danger and hazard when you attempt DIY repairs.

The spring or cables could snap causing personal injuries. It is better to call on a professional garage door technician if you are having problems with your door.

Should the door be making clicking, banging, or other loud noises?

Modern garage doors are designed to operate at very low noise levels. If you are hearing unusual sounds when opening or closing the door, it could indicate something is getting ready to fail. For instance a clicking sound could indicate a problem with the spring tension or a spring that is getting ready to snap and break, which can cause serious bodily injuries.

What can I do to keep my children safe?

Remember to have garage door sensors installed at the ground level. These sensors will stop the door from closing or opening if something is preventing them from communicating with each other. In addition, have the automatic opener control button installed at a height small children cannot easily reach.

Furthermore, take the time to educate your children about proper safety. For example, your children need to ask a parent to open and close the door for them. Remind them to do not play underneath the door, even when it is open.

How often does a garage door need inspected?

You should get into the habit of doing a self-inspection of the garage door once a month. This self-inspection merely involves opening and closing the dooring and monitoring how the door operates. If you hear any strange sounds or something seems off, then it is time to call a garage door technician for further troubleshooting and repair assistance.

How often does the door need to be replaced?

There is no set timeframe as it is entirely up to the homeowner. With proper care and regular maintenance a garage door can last anywhere from ten to fifteen years or longer. Some people choose to get a new door when they are renovating their home or they want the latest features that were not available five or ten years ago.

For assistance in finding an authorized dealer and garage door technician in your area or for a new garage door, please feel free to contact Richard-Wilcox Doors at (800) 667-1572 today!