With your garage door being the heaviest and largest moving piece of your home, it’s essential to eliminate potential dangers from the equation. June is Garage Door Safety Month; here are some essential tips to keep you and your family safe.
Carriage House Steel Model 7540, E3 panel (307), 7’ high, Red Oak Stained Finish, 16 Windows Arched, Decorative Hardware
Carriage House Steel Model 7540, E3 panel (307), 7’ high, Red Oak Stained Finish, 16 Windows Arched, Decorative Hardware
Did you also know that your garage is one of the most dangerous places in your home? According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are 6,600 garage fires every year, resulting in $457 million in property loss and 30 deaths. Consequently, garage fires, which occur more often in January, December, and July, cause more injuries and financial losses (per fire) than other home fires. View garage fire safety tips below to learn how to prevent fires in your garage:
Garage Door Safety Tips
Overhead Doors is committed to the highest standards of safety and keeping our customers out of harm’s way. By providing superior garage door installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair services, we help ensure the safe and proper functioning of your garage door.
Safe-T Beam
With its new self-diagnostic feature, the Self-Diagnostic Safe-T-Beam® System alerts homeowners of improper installation or malfunctions. With this system, a closing door will be reversed automatically when objects pass through its infrared beam.
Plus, using its red and green LED indicators, our new system will send a self-diagnostic code to help you quickly identify problems and solutions.
The six-part Safety Package includes the following:
- Safe-T-Beam® auto reversing system incorporating infrared beam and LED diagnostic lights
- Contact reverse feature stops and reverses the door within two seconds of contact
- Timed reverse stops and reverses the door if it fails to close in 30 seconds
- Adjustable electronic force sensitivity control
- Relay switch monitoring stops and reverses the door if a control relay switch malfunctions
- STB monitoring system stops and reverses the door if the Safe-T-Beam® system malfunctions
Pinch Resistant Panels and Hinges
In some garage doors (especially older ones), when the panels fold together as the door is closing, there’s a space between them where a finger or hand can get caught and squished, thereby causing a serious injury. This is a safety hazard for children in particular. Fortunately, the garage doors we carry at Creative Door have pinch-resistant panels and hinges. Thanks to this technology, the panels roll over each other, leaving minimal gaps and greatly reducing the risk of hand injuries.
Mechanical Release
Every garage door includes a mechanical release. Typically, it’s operated by a rope with a red handle that dangles from the opener. One purpose of the mechanical release is to allow you to open your garage door manually should the power go out. But it also serves as a vital safety feature if someone gets pinned under your garage door (in the event that the auto-reverse function and photo eyes aren’t working).
You can lift the garage door by hand by disengaging the mechanical release (pulling down on the rope). The door will be light and easy to lift, as it’s counterbalanced by the garage door spring.
Smart Garage Door Openers
The safety features of garage doors and garage door openers are continuously evolving, and one of the latest innovations is the smart garage door opener with my technology. Smart garage door products give homeowners more control over the largest entryways into their homes.
With OHD Anywhere®, homeowners can check if their garage door is open or closed or if there are any changes to the door position and instantly know when someone is attempting to operate it.
Homeowners can also open the door for a delivery, maintenance professional, or friend without providing the access password to the garage. It even offers the added security benefit of keeping a log of all garage door uses with dates and times.
Garage Door Opener Battery Backup
The Battery Backup accessory offers homeowners the security of always being prepared when severe weather hits, even in case of a power outage. It’s an accessory that can be easily installed and provides true peace of mind. The Battery Backup will do the heavy lifting when the power is out.
The Overhead Door™ Battery Backup, powered by Interstate Batteries®, provides reliable garage door operation during electricity outages. It is compatible with Overhead Door® Destiny® and Odyssey® garage door openers, which combine reliability, speed, and power, all with quiet operation.
Garage Fire Safety Tips
Fires in garages are a serious matter. The typical garage contains flammable materials, such as gasoline and paint thinner wood, sawdust, and greasy rags. Often, garages contain heat sources such as water heaters and furnaces that can ignite a fire.
As with most things involving garage fire safety, the key to keeping your garage as fireproof as possible is to ensure you have the right equipment and that you make the safest choices.
Storage of Flammable Liquids:
Many people store household and vehicle accessories in the garage, which could cause a spark in too much heat. Items like batteries and appliances could cause a fire if you store them too closely with any liquids.
- Store flammable substances, such as paints, gasoline, oil, or varnishes, outside the garage and home, preferably in a shed.
- Always keep items that can catch fire on high shelves and away from appliances that produce heat.
- Don’t fill portable gasoline containers inside your garage. Instead, choose an outdoor area and pour gasoline carefully to avoid spills.
- If you spill gasoline, soak it up with sawdust or cat litter. Throw the sawdust or cat litter in a safe container after fully absorbing the spill.
- Avoid using carpets, rugs, non-fire-retardant tarps, or cardboard on the garage floor, as these may absorb flammable liquids and cause a fire.
Protect Your Water Heater and Boiler:
If your water heater and boiler are stored in your garage, keep all items at least three feet away. A flammable object touching these appliances can spell disaster for your garage and home.
Plugging in Electronics:
Many homeowners enjoy taking on do-it-yourself projects in their garage. However, you must be careful about how you plug in your electronics. Electrical malfunctions are high on the list of the causes of house fires. Be careful not to overload your electrical system with appliances and tools.
- Plug only one charging appliance or major appliance at a time in a socket.
- Also, when powering or charging appliances, avoid using extension cords.
Install GFCI Circuit Breakers: Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are usually installed in kitchens and bathrooms to protect people from electrical shock. However, you can install them in your garage to prevent overheating and fire.
Install a Heat Alarm:
A heat alarm will sound when it detects dangerously high temperatures. Fixed temperature heat alarms alert when the temperature reaches 136 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure the alarm is interconnected with the rest of the alarms in your home.
While smoke alarms are sensitive to many fumes, heat alarms are more reliable.
Construction-related fire-proofing tips to consider:
- Install a ½-inch gypsum board wall if the wall connects your garage to your home.
- Install a ⅝-inch Type X gypsum board ceiling if the living space is above the garage.
- Install a self-closing and self-latching 20-minute fire-rated door that connects your garage to your house.
- Install an attic hatch cover if there is attic access from the garage.
Clear Access Points:
Many homeowners use the extra space that garages provide for storage. However, it would be best if you were careful to keep each access point clear for entry and exit. The door to your house and your garage door should always remain clear. In addition, you should conduct the necessary maintenance to ensure that your garage door is functioning correctly so that people can exit quickly.
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