Realtors share garage door safety tips with homeowners
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Many homeowners take their garage doors for granted. Often, garage doors lack the latest safety features or may not be operating properly.
"Garage safety is essential to ensuring a safe home," said Karen Trolan, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. "We need to periodically check and make sure our garage doors close and open properly because we keep our cars, valuable tools and other important items inside the garage. Homeowners with attached garages especially need to make sure their garage doors operate efficiently since they are an entrance to their home."
September is Realtor Safety Month and as part of its commitment to safety, the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors shares the following garage door safety information from the National Association of Realtors in conjunction with Liftmaster.
Three-Step Safety:
- Step 1: Check to make sure your garage door opener is equipped with photo eyes (black sensors). If the opener lacks a similar safety reversing feature, it is time to get a new opener. Properly installed photo-eyes should be mounted no higher than six inches off the floor. If the eyes are installed higher, a person or pet could get under the beam and not be detected by the photo eyes.
- Step 2: Block the photo-eye with an object over six inches tall and press the close button on the garage door opener. The door should not close. If it does, you need to call a garage door professional.
- Step 3: Test the door's sensitivity. Lay an object that is at least 1.5 inches in height flat on the ground in the door's path and press the close button. Household objects of this size might be a bar of soap, a stack of index cards or a hardcover book. A correctly installed garage door opener will automatically reverse after making contact with an object.
Check the Door, from Ceiling to Floor:
- Maintenance - To keep the garage door properly maintained and functioning safely, be sure to keep all moving parts of the door clean and lubricated, including the steel rollers.
- Balance - To check balance, start with the door closed and pull the opener release mechanism to maneuver the door by hand. If the door is balanced (properly spring-loaded and running freely on its tracks), it should lift smoothly without much effort and stay open about 3-4 feet above the door.
- Weather - Be prepared as seasonal storms may lead to power outages. Once power is lost to the home, an automatic garage door opener will also be impacted. Ensure your opener if equipped with a battery backup system, so even during unforeseen outages, you have peace-of-mind that their main entranceway to the home reliably opens and closes.
Organizing the Inside Out:
- Oil Out - The garage usually tops the basement or attic for clutter and debris. Keep it clear of oily and greasy rags as they are easily flammable and can ignite spontaneously. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Dust Up - It may seem like you're adding to the mess, but grass clippings are great for keeping dust under control in the garage. Next time you mow the lawn, sprinkle fresh lawn clippings on the garage floor then sweep it clean.
- Shelf It - Better organization of lawn equipment, sporting goods and bicycles is also crucial to a presentable garage. Install shelves and hooks to lift things off the floor and maintain order. Get in the habit of putting things back where they belong after use and regularly sweeping up.
To learn about more safety strategies and access free safety resources, visit www.REALTOR®.org/Safety.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.
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