Your garage door may be one of the heaviest moving objects in your home, but with modern garage door safety features, you can ensure that it is also one of the safest.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 30,000 injuries related to garage doors occur each year in the United States. The CPSC maintains a National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which collects data on product-related injuries from a sample of hospital emergency departments.
In this article, we’re taking a closer look at the various garage door safety features.
Garage Door Safety Features
Garage door safety features are crucial for protecting your family, especially children, from accidents and injuries. Children are naturally curious and may not be aware of the dangers posed by a moving garage door.
An automatic reversal system can help prevent entrapment and injuries by automatically stopping and reversing the door if it encounters an obstacle. Additionally, tamper-resistant hardware and keypads can prevent unauthorized access to the garage, while motion detection lighting can improve visibility and deter intruders.
By implementing these safety features, you can help ensure the safety and security of your home and family. Regularly testing and maintaining your garage door safety features is also essential to ensure they function properly and are ready to use in an emergency. By prioritizing garage door safety, you can avoid injuries and provide your family with a safe and secure environment.
1. Automatic reversal system
An automatic reversal system is a critical safety feature on modern garage doors. It is designed to help protect your family and prevent accidents by automatically reversing the direction of the door if it encounters an obstacle while closing. Here are some ways an automatic reversal system can help protect your family:
- Prevents entrapment: If a person, pet, or object is in the way of the garage door when it is closing, the automatic reversal system will stop and reverse the direction of the door. This can prevent entrapment and serious injuries.
- Stops the door if it malfunctions: If there is a problem with the garage door, such as a broken spring or cable, the door may close too quickly or with too much force. The automatic reversal system will sense this and stop the door from closing to prevent damage or injury.
- Minimizes damage: If a car or other large object is accidentally left in the garage door’s path, the automatic reversal system will stop and reverse the direction of the door. This can prevent damage to the door or the object in its path.
- Provides peace of mind: Knowing that your garage door has an automatic reversal system can ensure your family is safe from accidents and injuries.
It’s important to regularly test your automatic reversal system to ensure it is functioning properly. To test the system, simply place a small object, such as a roll of paper towels, in the door’s path and attempt to close it. The door should reverse direction upon hitting the object. If it doesn’t, contact a professional garage door technician to inspect and repair the system.
2. Photoelectric sensors
Photoelectric sensors are a safety feature commonly used in modern garage door systems. These sensors are mounted on either side of the garage door near the floor and emit an invisible beam of light that extends across the width of the opening. Suppose an object, such as a person, pet, or vehicle, interrupts the beam while the garage door closes. In that case, the sensors will detect the interruption and automatically stop and reverse the direction of the door. This helps prevent accidents and injuries, such as entrapment, by ensuring the garage door does not close on anything in its path. Photoelectric sensors are an important safety feature that should be regularly tested to ensure proper functioning. If the sensors become misaligned or damaged, a professional garage door technician should repair or replace them.
3. Manual release feature
The manual release feature of a garage door is a safety mechanism that allows you to manually open or close the door in case of an emergency or power outage. This feature is typically located on the garage door opener, near the motor, and is usually a red handle that you can pull down. When activated, the manual release disengages the motor from the door and allows you to lift or lower the door by hand manually. This can be useful when the power is out, or the motor has malfunctioned, and you must access or exit the garage.
While the manual release feature can be a lifesaver in emergencies, it is important to use it safely and correctly. It’s important to note that when you activate the manual release feature, the garage door will be very heavy and difficult to lift manually. It’s essential to use caution and enlist the help of another person if possible. Once you manually open the garage door, you must close it again. This can be a time-consuming and physically demanding process, so it’s essential to have a plan for handling emergencies and power outages. Regularly testing the manual release feature can help ensure that it is functioning properly and ready to use in an emergency.
4. Rolling code technology
Rolling code technology is a security feature commonly used in garage door openers. It is designed to prevent unauthorized access to your garage by generating a new code every time the remote control is used. Here’s a brief description of rolling code technology:
- Unique codes: Rolling code technology generates a new code each time the garage door remote is used. This makes it much harder for someone to intercept and copy the code, which can help prevent break-ins and theft.
- Encrypted signals: Rolling code technology also uses encrypted signals to communicate between the remote control and the garage door opener. This makes it much more difficult for someone to hack into the system and access your garage.
- Easy programming: Despite its advanced security features, rolling code technology is typically easy to program and use. Most modern garage door openers feature rolling code technology, and it can often be activated by simply pushing a button on the remote control.
5. Motion detection lighting
Motion detection lighting is a popular security feature often used with garage door systems. This type of lighting is designed to turn on automatically when it detects motion, which can help deter potential intruders and improve visibility around your garage.
When motion is detected, the lighting will turn on and stay on for a set period of time before automatically turning off again. This can help provide extra security and safety when entering or exiting your garage and deter intruders who may be attracted to a dark or poorly lit area.
Some modern garage door systems even allow you to control the motion detection lighting through a mobile app, making it easy to turn on or off the lights remotely.
6. Tamper-resistant hardware
Tamper-resistant hardware for garage doors is a type of security feature designed to prevent unauthorized entry and ensure the safety and security of your home. This hardware typically includes locks, hinges, and other components that are difficult to tamper with or break into. Some examples of tamper-resistant hardware for garage doors include:
- Deadbolts: Deadbolts are a type of lock that provides extra security by extending a solid metal bolt into the door frame. Deadbolts can be difficult to pick or break, making them an effective way to prevent unauthorized entry.
- Reinforced hinges: Hinges reinforced with steel or other materials can be difficult to pry open or break. This can be an effective way to prevent intruders from gaining access to your garage.
- Latches: Latches are another type of locking mechanism that can provide extra security for your garage. Latches can be installed on both the garage door and the side door of the garage, and they can be designed to be difficult to pick or break.
Overall, tamper-resistant hardware can be an effective way to improve the security of your garage and prevent unauthorized entry. Working with a professional garage door technician is important to ensure your hardware is installed correctly and properly. Additionally, it’s important to regularly test and maintain your hardware to ensure it provides the necessary level of security.
7. Battery backup
Garage door battery backup systems are designed to provide power to the garage door opener in case of a power outage. These backup systems typically consist of a rechargeable battery installed in the garage door opener and automatically switches on when the power goes out. Here are three key points about garage door battery backup systems:
- Backup power: A garage door battery backup system ensures that your garage door can still be opened and closed in case of a power outage. This can be essential in emergency situations, such as during a natural disaster or another power outage.
- Legal requirements: In California, garage door battery backup systems are legally required for all newly installed residential garage door openers as of 2019. The law was implemented to improve safety and reduce the risk of entrapment during power outages.
- Maintenance: Like all garage door safety features, garage door battery backup systems require regular maintenance to ensure they function properly. It’s important to test the system regularly and replace the battery as needed to ensure it is ready for use in an emergency. Regular maintenance can help ensure your garage door is always ready to operate safely and effectively, even during a power outage.
8. Access Keypads
Garage door keypads are a convenient and secure way to operate your garage door.
These keypads are typically mounted on the garage’s exterior and allow you to enter a code to open or close the door. This can be especially helpful if you need to provide temporary access to someone, such as a house sitter or delivery person. Garage door keypads are typically designed to be weather-resistant and durable, and many models feature backlit displays for improved visibility in low-light conditions.
Some modern garage door keypads even feature wireless connectivity, allowing you to monitor and control your garage door from your smartphone or another mobile device. Garage door keypads are an essential safety feature that can help protect your home and family from unauthorized entry and improve convenience and accessibility.
9. Wifi-enabled monitoring and control
Wifi-enabled monitoring and control for garage doors is a modern safety feature that allows you to monitor and control your garage door from your smartphone or another mobile device.
This feature typically requires a wifi-enabled garage door opener, which connects to your home wifi network and allows you to access the garage door remotely. Some of the benefits of wifi-enabled monitoring and control for garage doors include:
- Improved convenience: With wifi-enabled monitoring and control, you can open and close your garage door from anywhere, at any time. This can be especially helpful if you need to provide temporary access to someone or if you want to make sure the garage door is closed while you’re away from home.
- Increased security: Wifi-enabled monitoring and control can also improve the security of your home by allowing you to monitor the garage door remotely. This can help you detect any suspicious activity or unauthorized access to your garage.
- Smart home integration: Many modern garage door openers with wifi-enabled monitoring and control can be integrated with other smart home devices, such as voice assistants or home security systems. This can provide an added layer of convenience and security for your home.
Overall, wifi-enabled monitoring and control for garage doors is an innovative safety feature that can improve homeowners’ convenience, security, and peace of mind. Working with a professional garage door technician is important to ensure that your garage door opener is compatible with wifi-enabled monitoring and control and that the feature is set up and functioning properly.
10. Timer-to-close feature
Timer-to-close features are a modern safety feature found on some garage door openers that allow you to set a time delay for the garage door to close after it has been opened.
This can be helpful when you forget to close the garage door or if you need to leave the garage door open for an extended period. With the timer-to-close feature, you can set the time you want the door to remain open before it automatically closes. This feature can be a convenient and safe way to ensure your garage door is closed and secure, even if you forget to do it yourself.
It’s important to work with a professional garage door technician to ensure that the timer-to-close feature is set up and functioning properly and that it is not set to a time delay that is too short or too long for your needs.
Conclusion
Garage door safety features are essential for protecting your family and ensuring the security of your home. Various safety features are available to meet your needs, from automatic reversal systems to tamper-resistant hardware and wifi-enabled monitoring and control.
At Your Garage Door Guys, we understand the importance of garage door safety and are here to help with any concerns or questions you may have. Whether you need help installing new safety features, testing existing systems, or making repairs and upgrades, our experienced technicians are here to provide expert garage door service and advice.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help keep your family safe and secure with modern garage door safety features.