Garage Door Safety for Kids and Pets
A garage door is among the heaviest moving parts in a home. Children and pets do not see the danger. A few simple rules and checks make a big difference. This guide covers both.
Rules for children
- Teach children that the door is not a toy. They should never run under a closing door.
- Keep remotes and keypad codes away from young children.
- Mount the wall button at least five feet above the floor if it is not already. This is a common recommendation. Check your opener manual.
- Keep fingers away from the gaps between the door panels. Those hinge points can pinch.
- Do not let children play near the release cord or the springs.
Rules for pets
- Keep pets out of the garage while the door moves.
- Do not leave a pet near the door opening while you back out.
Test the safety features
Modern openers must reverse when the door meets an obstacle. They also use photo-eye sensors near the floor. Test the reverse feature once a month. This guide shows the box test. Keep the sensor lenses clean and aligned. If the door reverses on its own read why a garage door reverses by itself.
Know the dangerous parts
Springs and cables and the bottom brackets hold a great deal of force. Children should not touch them. Adults should not either. Read why the bottom bracket is dangerous and why you should not replace a spring yourself.
Use the release with care
The release cord lets you move the door by hand. It can also drop a raised door if a spring is weak. Teach older children not to pull it. Adults should read how to use the manual release safely.
Control access
Keep the door closed when no one is watching. Protect the remote and keypad. See garage door security tips.
Stop use when something looks wrong
If the door moves unevenly or stops or a cable looks frayed stop using it. Keep people away. Our opener repair page covers sensors and motors. Our emergency repair page explains what to do when the door is stuck. Add a safety check to your seasonal maintenance checklist.
Worried about your safety features?
Call us or send a request. We will check the door and the opener and tell you what we find.