Your garage door might open and close without much thought, but it’s actually the largest moving piece of equipment in your home. With powerful springs, cables under tension, and motorized parts, a malfunctioning garage door can cause property damage—or worse, injury.
At Apex Garage Doors LLC, we believe every homeowner should be equipped with the right knowledge to operate and maintain their garage door safely. Whether you’re in Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson, or surrounding areas, these safety tips will help protect your loved ones and extend the life of your garage door system.
1. Test the Auto-Reverse System Monthly
One of the most critical garage door safety features is the auto-reverse function. This system causes the door to reverse if it detects an object in its path, preventing injury or damage.
How to test it:
Place a small object like a wooden block or roll of paper towels on the floor in the door’s path. Close the garage door—if it doesn’t automatically reverse, the safety sensors may be dirty, misaligned, or failing. Contact Apex Garage Doors LLC for inspection and repair.
2. Visually Inspect Springs, Cables, and Rollers
Garage door springs and cables are under high tension and can be extremely dangerous if they break or malfunction. Visual inspections are a simple yet effective way to enhance your garage door safety.
What to look for:
- Gaps in torsion springs
- Loose or rusted cables
- Damaged or squeaky rollers
Safety warning:
Never attempt to adjust or replace springs or cables yourself—they can snap with great force. Let our trained professionals handle this safely.
3. Keep Garage Door Openers Away from Children
Garage door remotes and wall controls should always be out of reach of small children. Allowing kids to play with the opener is not only dangerous, it may cause unnecessary wear or accidents.
Pro tip:
Install wall controls at least 5 feet from the ground and mount openers in secure spots, not easily accessible to curious hands.
4. Never Leave the Garage Door Partially Open
A partially open garage door might seem harmless, but it’s a garage door safety hazard. It could close unexpectedly or invite intruders into your home.
- The door could suddenly fall, damaging your vehicle or hurting someone.
- Thieves can exploit the gap to gain access to your home.
Always open or close the door completely, and make sure it seals properly when shut.
5. Lubricate Moving Parts Regularly
One of the easiest ways to ensure your garage door runs safely is by lubricating the moving parts every 6 months.
Apply lubricant to:
- Rollers
- Hinges
- Tracks
- Springs (with caution)
This not only ensures smooth, quiet operation but also prevents breakdowns caused by friction or rust buildup.
6. Check the Manual Release Function
Your garage door opener comes with a manual release handle, usually a red cord hanging from the trolley. In case of power outage or emergency, it lets you disengage the opener and open the door by hand.
Safety check:
Make sure you know how to use it. Practice only when the door is closed, to avoid sudden falling.
7. Schedule Professional Maintenance Annually
Even if everything seems fine, regular inspection by a garage door professional can catch minor problems before they turn into major repairs.
At Apex Garage Doors LLC, our annual maintenance service includes:
- Full safety inspection
- Spring and cable checks
- Sensor calibration
- Lubrication of all moving parts
- Motor and opener testing
We help ensure your garage door is functioning safely, efficiently, and quietly all year long.
8. Be Aware of Unusual Sounds or Movement
Grinding, squeaking, jerking, or delayed responses are all signs your door needs attention. These symptoms can indicate:
- Misaligned tracks
- Worn rollers
- Damaged opener motor
- Failing springs or hinges
Don’t ignore the signs. Contact us immediately for a same-day diagnosis and fix.
🚨 Safety Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential
With daily use, it’s easy to forget how powerful and potentially dangerous your garage door can be. Taking time to implement these simple garage door safety tips can protect your property, reduce costly repairs, and most importantly—keep your family safe.
Whether you need an emergency repair, a spring replacement, or just a yearly safety check, Apex Garage Doors LLC is your trusted garage door expert in Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
