Potential Dangers of Garage Doors

Garage doors are very unique in their design and functionality. It is most often the largest moving component of any home and serves the important role of protecting everything inside the garage while also allowing for easy access to and from the garage. While they are very helpful, important, and useful, they can be dangerous—especially if they are not properly maintained. Here are some of the most pressing dangers of garage doors and what you can do to prevent them.

Springs

One of the most dangerous parts of a garage door are the springs. Mounted on the wall or ceiling above the garage are two springs that help to counteract the force of gravity on the door. Garage doors are heavy—most weigh at least 130 pounds and others can weigh 350 pounds or more—and the spring system is what enables you and your garage door opener to open the garage with relative ease. Useful as they may be, the springs are under a lot of tension and can be extremely dangerous when they break.

When a garage door spring breaks, it uncoils extremely quickly as it releases the tension. It is never recommended that people repair their own garage door springs because of how much damage the coils can cause as they spin. Another danger of a broken garage door spring is that after the spring breaks, the door becomes too heavy for the opener to lift, causing it to fall rapidly to the ground. The last thing anybody wants is for a 130- to 350-pound garage door falling onto them, others, or anything else (like cars, for example).

If you haven’t had your springs replaced in a while, call us today and let us solve the problem before it causes some serious damage.

Security

Garage doors—especially old garage doors—can pose a security threat to your home. As they age, garage doors become easier to pry open. Some burglars intentionally target old garages because they are easier to open and oftentimes homeowners leave the door inside the garage leading to the house unlocked. After breaking into a garage, the burglars can rummage through the garage and leave or use the garage as an entryway to the house. What’s worse is old garages are pretty easy to spot, so if your garage door is getting old, it might be time for a repair to improve its appearance and security.

Safety

Most garage doors have a few key safety features that prevent accidents. The most important safety features that most doors have are sensors that detect any objects that pass through the door’s pathway and sensors that detect if and when the garage has hit something as it opens or closes. These key features prevent the door from closing on anything you wouldn’t want it closing on, such as cars, people, pets, and other items.

These sensors can be faulty or wear out over time. If a garage door is old enough, it might not have them at all. Either way, it is important to make sure your garage door has sensors that are in good condition so you can prevent any accidents that may occur.