In between professional appointments, there are things you can do as a homeowner to keep your garage door working smoothly. Scroll down for some advice from our team on caring for your door and more.
Do not let your kids play with the wall switch
Kids can make anything into a game. They love to turn power switches on and off and watch the light bulbs' afterglow. They may think that playing with your garage door is a good idea, and they may want to start toying with its reverse mechanisms, by running underneath the door while it's closing. Don't let them do this. Make sure that your children understand that the garage door is not a toy. It’s very heavy and can seriously injure them if they play with it. The wall switch should be installed at a height that smaller kids cannot reach, and be used only by adults who understand the dangers.
Do not leave your remote control in the car
The easiest way for thieves to enter a house is to use a garage door remote control; so don’t make it simple for them by leaving it in your car, where they can easily grab it. Always take the remove with you and never leave it somewhere obvious like the glove compartment or under the sun visor. If you realize that the remote has been stolen from your car, disable it either by unplugging or reprogramming the opener, or, if it is a newer model, by using the control app.
Do not give your opener's access codes to strangers
If you have an external keypad that allows you to open your garage door by manually entering a numerical code, never give this information to people you don’t know. People often use this system more frequently than their front door, so think about it as the main access point to your house and pay special attention to its security needs. If you expect a package delivery or trades people to arrive – never share your access codes with them unless you're willing to change it that same day.