A garage door is the largest moving object in your home. The door is often operated by an electric door opener. Proper installation, maintenance, and testing is necessary to keep the garage a safe working environment. An opener that is not installed properly could result in a serious, and in some cases fatal injury. GarageDoorsofAmerica.com is proud to offer you these easy to follow tips. Print them and review them with your children. Remember, education is the art of prevention is the best defense for preventing accidents which could have been avoided.

1. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IF DOING A SELF INSTALL. (We strongly recommend using a qualified service installer)

2 . Remember to treat your garage door remote control like a key. Do not leave it in your car where it can be seen - hide it in the console, glove box or somewhere else in your car, but don't leave it on the visor where it can be seen.

3 . Never stand or walk under a moving door! Do not let children play "beat the door." It is very dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Adults should set a good example.

4 . Teach your children about the garage door safety. Explain the danger of being trapped under the door. Never let children play with or use transmitters or remote controls - always keep them out of reach.
Children should be supervised in and around the garage door area.

5 . VERY IMPORTANT - The push button wall control should also be out of reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the button where you can clearly see the closing garage door, and keep the door in sight until it completely closes.

6 . TEST MONTHLY - The garage door MUST reverse on contact with a 1-1/2 inch high object (or a piece of two-by-four lumber laid flat) on the floor. If the door doesn't stop and reverse after contact with the object, disconnect the operator and use the door manually until the operator is replaced or repaired by a qualified technician.

7 . An improperly balanced door increases the risk of severe injury or death. Have a qualified service person make repairs to cables, spring assemblies, and other related hardware.

8 . Garage door springs, cables, brackets and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following the manufacturer's instructions should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust torsion springs yourself.

9 . A restraining cable or other device should be installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring if it breaks. Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the loft cable and are under extreme tension.

10 . Make sure you opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply.

11. While on vacation, unplug the garage door opener unit, or use a wall console security switch, which is an optional accessory to most openers.