Keep Your Loved Ones Safe with These Essential Summer Safety Checks
As summer approaches in San Antonio, kids are home more often, playing in driveways, riding bikes, and spending time outdoors. With increased activity near the garage, it’s crucial to ensure your garage door is safe and functioning properly. At Precision Garage Door of San Antonio, we care about your family’s well-being. Here are five must-know garage door safety tips for families this summer.
1. Check and Test the Photo-Eye Sensors
Photo-eye sensors are a vital part of your garage door’s safety system. These small sensors, located on either side of the door near the ground, create an invisible beam. If anything crosses that beam while the door is closing, the door should automatically reverse.
How to test it:
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Close your garage door and wave an object (like a broomstick) in front of the sensor.
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The door should stop and reverse immediately. If it doesn’t, contact us right away—this could be a serious safety hazard.
2. Educate Kids on “Garage Door Safety Zones”
Children often play near the garage, but it’s important they know where it’s safe—and not safe—to be.
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Teach kids never to race under a moving garage door.
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Make sure they understand the door is not a toy and should only be operated by an adult.
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Avoid letting them press the remote buttons unless supervised.
Creating clear safety boundaries around the garage helps prevent accidents before they happen.
3. Ensure Pinch Protection on Panels
Modern garage doors often come with pinch-resistant panels—a feature that helps prevent fingers from getting caught between sections as the door opens or closes.
If your door is older or doesn’t have this protection, it may be time to consider an upgrade or retrofit. This is especially important for families with small children.
4. Know How to Use the Manual Release
Power outages from summer storms are common in San Antonio. Make sure every adult in the household knows how to use the manual release cord, typically a red cord hanging from the door opener.
This allows you to open or close the garage door manually during an emergency. Be sure to test it at least once a season to ensure it works smoothly.
5. Schedule a Summer Garage Door Safety Inspection
Even if everything seems to be working fine, wear and tear can lead to future failures. A professional safety inspection can identify:
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Loose or rusted hardware
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Worn-out springs or cables
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Improperly balanced doors
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Failing sensors or wiring issues
With kids home for the summer, this small step can provide peace of mind and prevent injury or property damage.
Final Thoughts
Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home—and one of the most used. Prioritizing safety is especially important during the summer months when kids are home and accidents are more likely.
🛠️ Need a quick safety check or repairs?
Contact Precision Garage Door of San Antonio today and ask about our Summer Garage Door Tune-Up & Safety Inspection Special. Stay safe, San Antonio!
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