Home Inspection Seattle Company Shares Garage Door Safety Tips

Your home inspection Seattle WA home inspection company, The Home Detective, shares garage door safety information.

The garage door’s role in the home has changed dramatically over the last 30 years and most people don’t realize it. Consider this: garage door openers have been installed in 35 million homes across the United States, making them one of the most widely used appliances. In fact, more than 70 percent of today’s homeowners use their attached garage as their main entrance to their home.

While the garage door is one of the most convenient aspects of your home, it is also the largest, heaviest moving object in your home. This means homeowners need to ensure it is working safely. Industry professionals estimate that one out of 15 garage door openers lack the latest safety features.

To combat this trend and increase knowledge about garage door safety, the professionals at LiftMaster – the number one manufacturer of professionally installed garage door openers in the world – have announced the “Don’t Chance It. Check It. Garage Safety initiative.”

Here are some safety tips you can follow to make sure your garage door is safe.

* Safety checks. In 1993, Congress passed legislation that required all new garage door openers sold in the U.S. to come with a set of photo-eyes. These sensors, located near the floor along the sides of the garage door opening, alert the system if anything crosses their path and stops the door from descending further. It’s easy to determine if your system is operating properly with a quick 3-Step Safety Check.

First, make sure the photo-eyes have been installed no higher than 6 inches above the garage floor.

Second, block one of the eyes with an object over 6 inches tall and try to close the door. The garage door should not close.

Third, lay an object at least 1.5 inches in height across the door’s path and press the button to close the door. The door should reverse upon sensing the object.

If your garage door opener fails these safety tests, it may be an ideal time to reach out to a LiftMaster Dealer.

“With every seasonal change, your garage remains a hub of activity – from parking your car to extra storage for the holiday decorations or sporting equipment. No matter the season, it is always the right time to instill good garage safety habits,” says Lou Manfredini, National Home Improvement Expert.- “Start with the door and work your way inside. Participate in LiftMaster’s Don’t Chance It. Check It. Safety Initiative to make sure your garage is in gear with everything from the door to the floor.”

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* Keep your garage door in tip-top shape. Garage doors, much like cars and other machines, require maintenance in order to run their best. You can keep your garage door running safely and smoothly by making sure all the moving parts are clean and lubricated, especially hinges and rollers.

* Find the right balance. Ensuring your garage door is properly balanced will lead to safer use. To check the balance, close the door and pull the opener release mechanism, allowing you to maneuver the door by hand. A properly balanced door should lift with minimal effort and stay open 3 to 4 feet above the floor.

* Have a backup plan. Much like the rest of your home, your garage door can also be the victim of bad weather. Severe storms can cut power to your garage, making your garage door useless. A battery backup system available on LiftMaster garage door openers guarantees you another 40 successful up-down cycles.

Make garage safety a good habit as it continues to grow into one of the most integral aspects of the home. To learn more about the Don’t Chance It. Check It. Safety initiative and how you can keep your garage door opener running safely, visit www.liftmaster.com/garagesafety or contact your local LiftMaster Dealer.

Reid Guthrie has owned and operated his Home Inspection Seattle company, The Home Detective, since January 1995. As a licensed home inspector, Reid covers Seattle and the surrounding area. If you or someone you know are looking for a thorough Seattle Home Inspector, look no further than The Home Detective ~ The More Thorough We Are, The More Defects We Find, The More Money You Save!

The home inspection Seattle you are looking for, where you are helped to find the best money for your home, is with Reid Guthrie at The Home Detective.