Many people don’t give enough attention to garage door safety, but 20,000 to 30,000 injuries take place each year because of them. That should highlight the need for some awareness around safety. The garage door ranks as one of the most dangerous parts of the home. Some of the most common injuries include fingers or body parts getting caught under the door, the door getting lowered onto someone and injuries to those who repair the door. Let’s have a look at some garage door safety tips that can save you from an injury.
Tip #1: Never Let Kids Hang onto the Garage Door
In particular, many of the injuries occur with children, and you should never let a child hang onto the garage door because of how this can hurt them or damage the door. You can bet that they will feel tempted to do this. In fact, don’t let a child play around an operating garage door whatsoever, and don’t let them play with the controls either. The consequences aren’t worth it.
Tip #2: Conduct a Monthly Inspection
For a lot of people, they may not even think of this with their garage door, but one of the best ways to improve garage door safety comes from inspecting the door once a month. Look for signs of wear and tear. In this way, you can fix the problem before it has the opportunity to fully materialize into an injury. Look at the pulleys, the springs, the cables and the rollers to ensure everything remains in working condition and won’t malfunction.
Any damage to the cables, springs, rollers or pulleys shouldn’t be repaired via the do-it-yourself method because of how this requires the careful attention of a specialist to prevent injuries. These parts have been wound tightly, and they have a lot of tension behind them. Should one of the components break, it could cause serious injury to anyone in the vicinity. You must have an expert because they know how to do this safely.
Tip #3: Take the Garage Door Opener with You
One of the most common ways that criminals have broken into homes comes from them stealing the garage door opener. Once they have the opener, they don’t have to come in through the front door because they can use the garage door opener to enter through the garage. Because of its size, you can store this in a backpack, a purse or a pocket and lower the chances that it will get stolen.
Tip #4: Educate Your Family
Especially small children need an education not to play around a garage door in operation. Remind your children not to keep their hands or fingers near a garage door that is closing. In addition, they shouldn’t have loose clothing near it because this can have equally devastating consequences. You want your children to understand how the garage door is not a toy, and they shouldn’t run, play near or stand close to a garage door that is moving. A little awareness around this issue can go a long way to protecting your family.
Tip #5: Beware of the Garage Door’s Age
Garage doors over the age of 25 years old can start to endanger those who use it because of how the wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. If you have a garage door over 25 years old, you may want to contact Pros Garage Door in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. They can inspect the components and bring your garage door up to date.
Tip #6: Never Depend on the Sensors
Even if your garage door has sensors on it that prevent it from closing if someone is underneath it, you should never rely on this. Technology can malfunction. Most modern garage doors will have a black box located closer to the bottom of the garage door. When the sensors don’t align properly, the garage door won’t operate.
Still, cases have happened where the sensors malfunctioned and the door closed on someone who thought they were safe. Every month or so, you may even want to inspect the sensors. You might clean the lenses with a soft cloth because dirt and spiderwebs can build up on them. This keeps the eyes from malfunctioning. If you believe that the sensors aren’t working, call a professional get the sensors because to work.
Tip #7: Prepare for Emergencies
Let’s say something happens and someone gets caught under the garage. How do you respond to this situation? You should learn the emergency release feature of your garage. It will usually be found in the owner’s manual of your product. People should always know this because of how you never know if someone would get injured by the door. The faster you can respond, the better their chances of survival and non-permanent injury. Understanding where the emergency release is at will keep you and your family safe.
Garage Door Safety
One of the greatest safety measures that you can take for a garage door is to make sure that you have photo-eye sensors, and check periodically to make sure that they work. Many times, the injuries that come from garage door can be serious because people get crushed by them. Never let a child play games during an operating garage door, and don’t let them dash underneath an operating garage door. This poses a great danger to your child.
Having an automatic garage door has become a modern perk of living as a homeowner. Having a new garage door opener comes with benefits. Think of it as an investment because garage doors have an awesome ROI of 97.5 percent.
Putting money into your garage door always comes back to you. Let’s have a look at the reasons that someone would want to replace an old garage door opener.
#1 Better Security
New garage door opener use the latest security technologies. Technology like this didn’t exist in the past. Nowadays, you can open and close your garage door from 300 miles away or more. As long as you have an internet connection, you can send the command. That comes in handy if you have a family member who locked themselves out.
Using the newer technology, you can add a fingerprint feature where the garage door scans your fingerprint to open and close the door. No one on the planet has the same fingerprint, which makes it much harder for criminals to bypass.
#2: Drop the Noise Levels
The older garage door openers was clunky and made tons of noise. You will feel inconvenienced by the noise, but it can also vibrate and rattle, which shakes your garage door components to pieces.
In some cases, the noise may come from a lack of lubrication of the components, but in other cases, no amount of lubrication will eliminate the noise because it directly relates to the age of the door.
Newer models like belt drives operate at much lower sound frequencies for the optimal experience. You don’t have to worry about coming home late from a late shift and waking the family.
#3: Improved Safety
Over 30,000 people suffer injuries because of garage doors every year. Unfortunately, accidents from garage doors come with no forgiveness, and it often leads to drastic consequences. Some of the most common injuries include:
You may ask yourself, “Why does a garage door need internet?” That’s a perfectly logical question to ask, but as we highlighted before, the internet enables you to open and close the new garage door opener from anywhere.
New features let you monitor the status and notify you if the door opens for suspicious reasons. Some of the best garage door opener features include:
The new features of today far surpass the ones of yesterday with the garage door opener. If you’re still using an older garage door opener, it could be worth investing in the newer one, which has better convenience and security.
#5: Less Need for Maintenance
Like with old cars, they start to require ongoing maintenance to keep them up and running. You may find that your garage door has constant problems.
The other thing is that, sooner or later, you may have to buy a new garage door opener anyhow. You may be avoiding the inevitable and paying more for it in the process.
To figure out if it is worth the cost of replacing, look at the age and need of repair. Most garage door openers will last between 10 to 15 years. At that point, it may be worth the cost of between $150 and $300 to replace your garage door opener.
#6: Solves the Power Outage Issues
When the power goes out, an older garage door opener stops opening and closing. New Garage door openers nowadays have a backup battery that you can use to keep you from having to manually open and close your garage door.
Especially if you live in an area where power surges happen frequently, you may find it worth the investment.
#7: Eliminates the Extra Device
New openers don’t require the extra opener device because you can install an app that lets you open and close your garage door from the smartphone. A lot of people love the convenience of it.
At the same time, it drops a serious security issue that someone could come in and steal the remote, which could leave you in hurting shape. You can add a timer-to-close function on the door to close the door on a timer.
Especially if you have an older opener, you may be missing out on essential convenience and security features that will improve your experience. If you’d like to learn more, contact Garage Door Star.
Investment in a New Garage Door Opener
We have a team of experienced representatives ready to help. Old garage door openers don’t fail often without plenty of warning. If you have started to notice signs of it not working as well, you may find it worth the cost.
Garage door openers don’t do the lifting. Instead, they move the door, and the springs do the heavy lifting of the garage door. A properly working door is essential to keeping things running smoothly in the home.
Important for getting in and out of the garage, the garage door spring also serves a key role in safety. Garage doors weigh anywhere from 130 to 400 pounds. If you happen to be in the wrong place at the incorrect time, a garage door spring breaking can cause serious injury.
Because the springs have to lift anywhere from 130 to 400 pounds, they have tons of pressure behind them. A garage door spring snapping can maim or kill. Never work on extension springs your self because it requires the experience of a knowledgeable technician.
How Long Does a Garage Door Last?
Most garage door experts like the ones at Garage Door Star agree that the springs will last roughly 10,000 cycles or seven years. That seems at average use, which means you open and close your garage door four times per day.
This daily winding up and unwinding can eventually lead to the spring breaking when you don’t have a technician to replace it beforehand.
Why Do Garage Door Springs Break?
Garage door springs break because of wear and tear. Over time, rust may start to form as humidity exposes the metal springs to moisture. Galvanized springs don’t experience the identical danger of rusting as other springs because of a protective layer.
The risk of a deadly failure will increase as the extension springs wear out with time.
Most Common Injuries from a Broken Spring
You have a few common injuries with broken extension springs that include:
Broken wrists
Broken fingers
Head accidents
Lacerations
Don’t underestimate the dangers because a broken garage door spring can kill. Now that garage doors use torsion springs, you don’t hear as much about people dying because of them. Manufacturers made torsion springs with a central metal shaft around them.
That doesn’t mean they come without risk as a result of someone inexperienced with garage doors should still never work with the springs.
Signs of a Broken Garage Door Spring
You have a few signs that the garage door spring has broken. Look for a 2-inch gap on the spring, which indicates that a break occurred. Other signs can point to a broken garage door as well, such as the door closing with larger force, the door not opening or closing, the door appearing crooked as it closes or the door opening only a few inches before it closes.
Better Than the Cure: Prevention
Yearly inspection and maintenance go a long way to keeping your garage door springs in good condition. They become most harmful when near the end of their lifespan. Apply lubrication to springs that make noise. Lubrication prevents rust from forming on the springs.
Understand: The heavier the door, the more pressure on the spring. That makes it more dangerous.
What Happen if a Spring Broke?
A garage door with a broken spring should have the door left closed. If the door stays in the open position, only close it if you can safely do so. Use the click from afar to close the door. Unplug the garage door opener from the wall to ensure that no one accidentally opens it. Otherwise, call in a technician to do it. Don’t risk injury.
You may think of breaking a finger as minor, but don’t underestimate the damage. We know of someone who worked on a garage door spring. It snapped and broke his thumb.
The thing is, it did more than break his thumb. The spring caused permanent nerve damage so that he could never use that hand again. On top of that, when the spring broke, it ricocheted and smashed him in the face.
The energy behind the spring caused a large laceration. Don’t underestimate a broken garage door spring. Even torsion springs pose a danger.
Our experts have the tools and understanding to work on extension springs safely. Luckily, you don’t have to replace garage door springs often. Having a technician replace a garage door spring costs anywhere from $100 to $300, but you will feel grateful that you didn’t risk an injury.
Where to Find the Springs on Your Garage Door
The location of the garage door springs vary. Torsion springs, usually much larger, will sit above the garage door. Extension springs are usually between 2 to 4 feet in length. You can see them above the tracks, but many of the newer models use a torsion spring because broken garage door spring from a torsion spring don’t pose the same danger.
Not only does it improve safety, but they last more and are sturdier. Still, call the experts even with a torsion spring.
The new garage door includes safety cables on the springs to hold it in place. In the past, garage door springs could break with such momentum that they would smash through a wall and injure the person in the next room.
If a spring on the garage door has broken, do not open the door. You increase the pressure on the working springs and have a high risk of it breaking. Call Garage Door Star for assistance with a broken garage door spring.
Garage door springs deal with probably the most pressure as the door closes. Because of this, they often break with the door closed.
Here at Garage Door Star, we have had customers from many backgrounds, and we have fixed a variety of problems. We have a couple of common garage door problems that have become some of the most common to address. Let’s have a look at the different problems and how you can address them. In some cases, you can’t address them on your own, and it’d be better to hire a professional technician come out because of the dangers.
#1: Loud and Grinding Noise
This happens for any number of reasons that includes loose hardware, squeaky sections or shabby parts. Usually, loud and screechy noises coming from the garage door indicates that you need to apply a lubricant to the garage door. If you notice loud and squeaky noises, try to apply lubricant to see if it doesn’t quiet the sound of your garage door.
#2: Uneven Garage Door
Let’s say that you have a garage door that moves unevenly. If you have a garage door that shimmies each time that it opens, you may have something blocking the tracks. You will want to take a look at this to remove any types of obstructions that you might find as well because this has been known to cause this problem. Let’s say that that didn’t resolve the problem. In that case, the problem relates to the spring system. You need to call a professional for this. Don’t do it yourself. Garage door springs have killed many a person who didn’t know how to work on them. This requires garage door repair from a knowledgeable expert.
#3: Garage Door Opener Doesn’t Work
You tap the button of the garage door opener only find that nothing happens. What happened? In many cases, this comes down to a need for lubricant to lower the amount of friction between the garage door and the rollers. You use a silicone-based lubricant and apply a generous amount of it to the length of the garage door. After you have finished, first be sure to wipe away the excess to ensure that everything goes smoothly.
#4: Cracks and Gaps in the Garage Door
Nothing looks more unsightly than a garage door that has cracks or gaps in it. You will use weather sealant as a way to keep the water out. The sealant will also keep the hot and cool air out, and it will reduce the amount of traffic noise heard from outside. You can get weather sealants from your local home improvement store.
#5: Garage Door Opening and Immediately Closing
Perhaps one of the more annoying garage door problems that you can encounter, the garage door opens and immediately closes. Most likely, this requires garage door repair from an experienced expert. This is one of the common garage door problems that relate to the springs. For those who replaced their garage door springs within the last three years, they most likely only need to have the broken springs replaced. Still, you should seek the qualified experience of a professional for a task like this because it can be dangerous to replace the springs without the know-how.
#6: Formation of Rust
Outside of its obvious destruction of aesthetic appeal, rust on the garage door can also become a problem for keeping out the dirt. Oftentimes, this happens with iron garage doors as they get exposed to both oxygen and water vapor at the same time. Over a long period of time, it leads to a lot of rust that damages the look of your garage door, and it lowers its effectiveness as well.
If you want to get rid of rust, you will use dishwashing soap to start. Next, you will dab a cloth with vinegar. In the next step, you will naturally dissolve the rust. In the following step, you will take some sandpaper to sand away at the rust. Finally, you will apply a fresh coat of paint to the garage door, which will also serve as a type of sealant to protect the garage door.
These are some of the garage door problems that have commonly arose. In some cases, you may find it better to call in the professionals. Here at Garage Door Star, we have done business since 2004, and we help to install, repair and maintain garage doors. You will have access to some of the most experienced experts around who can resolve any problems that you might have. Call today (877) 566-7133 !
If you live in a region with extreme temperatures an insulated garage door is a great option when it comes to building your new home or refurbishing your existing one. The garage is often the biggest room in the house and be a widely used entrance in the way the home is lived in.
The Case for Insulated Garage Doors
What’s an Insulated Garage Door and Why You Need One? An Insulated Garage Door has an extra layer of steel built in for insulation. This layer of Steel not only protects against cold weather air during severe winters but they also help keep the heat out during the Summer.
Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors
If you are considering a new door for an existing home or that dream home you are building, a garage door that is insulated is definitely something you’ll want to consider. It adds value to your home and can save you money over days, months, and years. One of the more affordable renovation options, this is an option that will pay off in the long run.
Insulating your garage door is energy efficient and will reduce wasted energy from heating and cooling your garage. Often the garage connects directly to the home and having an energy efficient garage can affect the rest of the house and drop energy use even further. Non-Insulated garage doors can often cause cold or hot air to travel to the rest of the home.
Something that is rarely discussed is the buffer that the garage creates between a heated indoors and the exterior weather, it can make the difference of up to twelve degrees.
Durability and Strength increase with each layer of insulation. Because the doors are made from a solid frame which is then filled with a layer of insulation which can protect from the impact of everyday family life.
Drawbacks of Insulated Garage Doors
One of the biggest drawbacks of an insulated garage door is that can be a bigger up front investment. The extra investment cost is due to that extra layer of steel built into the door. When building a home on a budget this extra can be a crucial factor in decision making.
If you have a higher budget while building you may want to consider that an insulated garage door may save you money on heating and cooling costs down the road.
The Case for Non-insulated Garage Doors
What is a Non-insulated Garage Door? A non insulated Garage door is a Garage door that is built using a single layer of steel and gives less protection from the elements than a garage door that is insulated.
Benefits of Non-Insulated Garage Doors
Built with a single layer of steel, Non insulated garage doors are less of an upfront financial investment. If you have a garage that is built separately from the home and live in a milder region where the climate doesn’t reach overly high or low temperatures a non-insulated garage door might be a viable option and save you money on building or remodeling costs. This can be a few hundred dollars you can put back in the bank or invest elsewhere.
Drawbacks of Non-Insulated Garage Doors
While a garage door that is not insulated might save you a pretty penny in the upfront investment, it might end up being more of a drain on the old pocketbook. The fact that it is less energy efficient can affect your bottom line greatly over the course of a few years. In extreme temperatures non-insulated garage doors can cause your home to require more energy to heat and cool to a comfortable temperature and protect against cold and hot air.
Single Layer Steel
Another name you may have heard a Single layer steel door referred to as is the “Pan Garage Door”.
The reason for this name is that they are built from a single, thin layer of steel and aren’t as sturdy as other garage doors and won’t stand up to a wide setting because they are more flimsy.
If used on a door frame that is less than 8 feet by 9 feet they can be quite sturdy, solid and durable. Given the proper setting they are a low maintenance option that can last for years to come.
Benefits of Single Layer Steel
A Single Layer garage door can be a great option for anyone looking for a lightweight, low maintenance, simple door that is reliable for small homes. It does the job a garage door is made to do, which is to protect the garage from the elements. This can be the easiest option if you are wanting a non electric garage door.
Drawbacks of Single Layer Steel
Single layer garage doors are made very simply and in harsh conditions may not protect the inside of the garage from extremely frigid or hot air.
The quality of the insulation may not be as great as that in Triple Layer Steel 2x + Insulation. If that is not a concern, than single layer steel is a great option.
Double Layer Steel
Triple Layer Steel 2x + Insulation or Double Layer Steel Doors are made of a layer of steel and a second layer that is made of polystyrene for an extra thermal layer of protection from extreme weather conditions.
Benefits of Double Layer Steel and Triple Layer Steel 2x + Insulation
Because the Double Layer Steel door has multiple layers it is stronger and more durable than the Single Layer Garage Door. This is an option that might make sense to homeowners who are looking to make an investment in quality.
The extra protection and strength that comes from having more insulation and multiple layers makes them more able to stand up to wear and tear. They are less prone to damage and every day living.
This is great for Sports families as the multiple layers help protect the structure of the door from flying objects such as softballs, basketballs, or baseballs. The thinner doors won’t stand up to impacts such as these.
The extra insulation is a barrier between the inside of the garage and harsh elements and can save money over time on heating and cooling costs. This is especially important if the garage is attached to the home because the air from the garage can affect the rest of the house.
Because these doors are stronger and more durable they require even less maintenance than the simple, single layer doors. Because they are more energy efficient they are also more Environmentally friendly. These days, who doesn’t want to be responsible consumers and lower their global footprint?
Drawbacks of Double Layer Steel and Triple Layer Steel 2x + Insulation
The Upfront cost may not work for everyone. It might be worth taking the extra time to insulate the door yourself as an option to save money. This might entail effort that might not result in the quality of a professionally designed insulation.
Insulated Wood
Because of the aesthetic beauty and rich look of wooden garage doors they are quite popular. Can they be insulated as effectively as a steel door? Are they as durable and cost efficient?
With Today’s craftsmanship and technological expertise in the world of garage doors, they are often made with multiple layers creating an effective level of insulation.
Benefits of Insulated Wood
Insulated Wood Doors are often built using high end craftsmanship and techniques such as having layers of polystyrene added as insulation between the many layers of wood used to make the doors. The ending result actually creates a higher level of thermal protection and insulation.
Because wood is comes from natural sources, it is made of tiny air pockets and nooks and crannies that can create insulation in and of themselves.
A Wooden Garage Door can be another great alternative to Triple-Layer Steel 2x + Insulation
Does it really make a difference whether or not your garage door is insulated?
When considering insulation in your garage door it is important to consider your personal needs when it comes to budget, taste and aesthetics.
Another thing that is important to a lot of consumers is their global footprint, and your garage door can be a great place to make that impact. The less often you have to buy a new door the lower your footprint will be, so quality is important here.
Given these factors it can definitely make a difference in the way you use your home whether you choose an Insulated Garage Door or a non insulated garage door.
Single layer steel is less protective and durable than the options of Double layer steel, Insulated Wood and Triple layer steel 2 x + Insulation.
Insulation can make the difference of whether you want to spend time in your garage in the Winter or Summer. You might use it as a workspace and having a garage that is not fully protected from cold or hot air in extreme conditions would make using that work space uncomfortable.
