It's a simple concept, really: They go up. Automatic garage doors are a convenience we (and our backs) take for granted. But being the heaviest moving objects in ours homes, they deserve a little attention to prevent unfortunate accidents. Follow these eight tips and your garage door should give you many years of reliable and safe service. 1. Test the self-reversing mechanism. All garage door openers installed since 1993 have an “electric eye” that senses if something crosses the path of the door while it goes down. If something or someone triggers the sensor, the door is supposed to stop and go back up. However, a study from the National Institutes of Health tested 50 garage door openers and found 40 percent of them did not reverse direction when a child-sized mannequin was in the door’s path. That same study showed 85 children died or suffered permanent brain damage between 1974 and 1996 as a result of accidents with automatic garage doors, meaning some incidents occurred even after the sensors were mandated.

In fact, in 2013 a three-year-old girl in Maryland was crushed to death by a garage door that had sensors but didn’t reverse direction when she ran under it. If your opener doesn’t have this self-reversing feature, consider replacing it with one that does, advises John Drengenberg, UL’s consumer safety director. And if your opener does have an electric eye, it’s a good idea to check it monthly by putting an object such a roll of paper towels under the door as it closes to make sure it self-reverses. 2. Watch the door go all the way down. Have you ever returned home to find your garage door open when you were sure you pushed the button in your car as you drove away? It’s a common occurrence, says Drengenberg. Perhaps something got in the path of the electric eye and caused the door to reverse. Even a leaf blowing into the garage can reverse the door. “It’s happened to me,” he says. “Push the button and watch the door go down. It’s important not only for the security of your home but the safety of kids.”

3. Check the working parts. Once a month, take a few moments to visually inspect the garage door. Run the door up and down a time or two. Is the door moving more slowly or making more noise than usual? Check the cables, springs, rollers, pulleys and hinges for wear, Drengenberg advises. If you see anything that needs serious attention, don’t try to make repairs yourself. The mechanisms are under a lot of tension and can be safely serviced only by a qualified person with specialized tools, Drengenberg warns. 4. Lubricate the chain or gear drive. Here’s a little maintenance you can do yourself: During your monthly visual inspection, check the chain or screw drive that operates the door. If it looks dry, squirt it with household lubricating oil, such as 3-In-One, according to Drengenberg. Related: How to Dispose of Lightbulbs and 9 Other Hazardous Items 5. Keep the door clear. Don’t store anything near the garage door that might fall against it, and never lean anything against the door.

Sure, you meant to put the ladder there for just a minute but then the phone rang, and you forgot about it. Then your spouse came home, opened the door, and that ladder almost fell on her car. The only way to make sure no one opening the door will get a dangerous surprise is to keep the door clear at all times.french door knockers for sale 6. Keep remotes and switches out of reach of children. nfc door lock chinaMake sure kids can’t operate your garage door by keeping remotes in a place little hands can’t access, Drengenberg says. garage door opener 1991And make sure the opener switches by the garage door are mounted too high for small children to reach.samsung double door refrigerator models price india

7. Keep the remote safe from burglars. Don’t leave a portable remote control in your unlocked car in the driveway. Even if you lock the car, stash the remote out of sight, Drengenberg suggests. And just in case a burglar gets his hands on your remote or even the combination to the opener, be sure to lock the door (if there is one) between the garage and the house.solid wood interior doors colorado 8. Know what the red handle does. car window repair exeterThere’s a red handle dangling from a cord on the garage door opener. garage door fix swanseaPulling that handle releases the door from the automatic opener so you can push the door up manually. You may never have to use it until the day you need to get your car out of the garage during a power outage.

And in the event that the auto-reverse fails and someone gets stuck under the door, it’s important to know you can pull that red handle to free them.Garage doors provide one of the major entryways into your home. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that they are secure and in good working order. If you are having problems with your current door, then you need to have a professional determine if it can be repaired or if it will need to be replaced. Here are some of the most common factors that will affect the cost of a garage door repair. Though you can do some maintenance to your garage doors on your own, it may be a good idea to schedule routine inspections with a professional. A typical service call will include a manual inspection of the door and opener. Then adjustments can be made including spring tension, chain/belt tension, limits and force adjustments and door lubrication. Fees for this service vary from place to place, but garage door repairs typically cost between $148 and $323.Here are some common garage door repairs and their associated costs:There could be several reasons for your garage door to stick in one position or another:Squealing, screeching, or grinding noises from your garage door are usually indicative of a lack of lubricant or an accumulation of dirt or debris in the tracks.

When removing debris, do not use harsh chemicals to clean the tracks. Once the track is clean, coat it with lubricant designed especially for garage doors, if possible. If you do not have access to this special type of lubricant, you can use WD-40 on the tracks and hardware.If you follow these steps and your door still makes a loud noise when you use it, it is time to call a professional for possible repairs to your track. Average cost for track repair is $155.If your garage door falls more quickly than it once did, or bounces around when in use, it is likely due to broken chains or cables. This is a repair best done by a professional. The cables or chains are relatively inexpensive, but installation takes some time. Average costs may be $150 to $200.Here are a few other issues that may arise, depending on the type of garage door you have:Hire a Garage Door ContractorThe goal in choosing a garage door is to match the style of the house. There are several styles of garage doors to choose from.

Here is a brief overview of a few popular garage door styles and their advantages and disadvantages:In general, single tilt-up models are the most affordable doors. Single roll-up are also on the affordable side of the spectrum. Custom roll-up models will be more expensive, and solid wood custom doors are the most expensive.Repair costs for garage doors can also be affected by the type of material used. In order to cut down on repair costs, you should work with the correct garage door material for your climate. Here is a quick rundown of the different materials used in garage door design and some associated costs:Regardless of the material, you will likely need to perform some regular maintenance tasks. A garage door professional can examine common problem areas to ensure all are working as they should. Additionally, it is necessary to examine the integrity of the door itself, since your garage can be especially vulnerable to security issues if your door is not structurally sound.Find a Garage Door Repairman TodayIf you install a new door and the new color does not match the trim or exterior of your home, you may decide that painting or refinishing is preferred.