Garage Door Opener Security, Part 1

Keeping your home secure is a big priority. So how can you know that your garage is secure at night or when you're out of town? Here are a few tips to get you started:

#1. Always keep the door connecting your home and garage locked.

#2. Unplug opener (with door closed and still engaged to motor) or use a vacation switch when going out of town.

#3. If you have an outside keypad, be sure to keep the passcode secret among persons with that information. A temporary pin can be programmed for guests or repair persons to use in your absence. Refer to your users manual for programming directions (for Genie keypad instructions, please visit our website at www.lestersgaragedoors.com under "Help Page" on the navigation bar).

#4. Check remotes and wall button regularly to confirm that buttons are not sticking. If you keep any spare remotes stored in your home, be sure that there is nothing pressing down on top of them. A stuck button can cause the door to operate on its own, which can leave your home vulnerable.

Garage Door Safety, Part 2 – Childproofing

Keeping our children safe is the top priority of every parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, even the babysitter. So how can we protect our children from the dangers of the garage door? Here are six important steps you can take to “childproof” your garage door.

1)Install wall button & keypads out of reach of young children. Also, be sure to instruct your children never to play with hand-held remotes, and keep them stored out of reach.

2)Keep the door in sight from the time it is activated to the time it stops. This way, if a child does come near the door you can warn them.

3)Test your garage door opener’s reversing mechanism monthly. The door should reverse when it comes in contact with a roll of paper towels.

4)Talk with your children about the dangers of a garage door. For example:
*The garage door is the largest moving object in the home, and can weigh from 150 to 400 lbs.
*Discuss the dangers of being pinned beneath a garage door.
*Injuries often occur from touching the door during operation. Moving sections,
hinges, rollers, cables, etc. can be very dangerous - even when using the door
by hand.

5)Teach children not to walk, run, or play under or near an open or moving garage door. Again, ensure that your child understands the danger of being pinned!

6)Encourage your child not to play games like “beat the door”, and also not to hang from the bottom of the door (springs hold the entire weight of the door, added weight will put stress on the springs).

I hope these tips will be helpful to you! If you have any questions, comments, or even tips please feel free to post them. Have a great week!