Royal Garage Door Wants You and Your Family Safe

Recently, there have been some news sources suggesting modifications for homeowners to make to their garage doors and openers. However, any alteration to your garage door system should be done by a professional. These news stories claim that your garage door is an easy access point for intruders to get into your home, and that the solution is to zip tie/cut off the emergency release rope and handle.  Unfortunately, the news sources are offering life-threatening advice and the best advice should just be to always make sure you close and/or lock all of your homes access points. If your garage door and opener are in good working order, it would be extremely difficult for the intruders to break into your home that way. According to Home Security Concepts, the number one entry point intruders use is the front door followed by backdoors, basement doors, glass patio doors, sliding doors, and then garage doors (only because it is clumped into the “secondary door” category).

An International Door Association (IDA) member from San Antonio wrote a great response to the reporters airing this story. He said that suggesting these modifications to homeowners is not only putting them and their families in danger, but it also goes against the federally-mandated UL 325 safety standard. There are 10 safety and security tips the IDA released:

1. It is important to properly perform routine maintenance on your garage door system. To learn more about what to do and what not to do, check out the IDA website: www.garagedoorcare.com or call Eric and Gary to do the work for you!
2. Garage doors with operators feature an emergency release device that can be readily identified by locating the red cord and red handle. This device is required by law for the purpose of quick disengagements of the operator. It should NEVER be modified, including the addition of a zip-tie for the purpose of security.
   1. The reasoning behind this is children, pets, and even adults may fall or get trapped under the garage door when closing. Even if you do not have children or pets, your neighbors, siblings, or friends may have children than come to your house and a garage door can be very dangerous if the operator cannot be easily disengaged in an emergency.
   2. Removing the red handle is also not recommended and it is strongly discouraged. The handle is required by UL 325 and federal law. It is there for emergencies such as a child being entrapped under the door.
   3. If you wish, frosting your garage door windows will obscure visibility into your garage.
   4. By adding a motion-sensing exterior light outside your garage, unwanted guests are less likely to attempt entry into your garage at night.
   5. Leaving the remote control to your garage door operator in your automobile can be an invitation to a thief or undesirable person to enter your house; just like leaving the key to your house in plain view.
   6. At least annually, contact a profession door dealer to inspect your garage door system. A periodic inspection and maintenance visit by a pro can save you headaches and dollars in the future.    No one wants to get their car stuck in their garage causing them to be late for work, picking up children from school, or other events! Eric and Gary can do a quick inspection and evaluate your garage door system!
   7. Check the surroundings of the roller tracks. Move items that may come in contact with a moving door such as a shovel, broom, or lawn equipment.
   8. Have your garage door monitored by a security system just as you would any other door or window in your home, and/or install a garage door monitoring system to help you remember to close your garage door. Most are extremely simple to use! A device will plug into your home wireless modem or garage door opener and can send signals to your cell phone and/or email to notify you of events—such as your door being left open for over an hour or after certain hours at night.
   9. Last but not least, a very basic and simple tip: remembering to keep your garage door closed can help protect your home and property. If you must have your garage door open, lock the entry door between the home and the garage.

These ten steps are thanks to the IDA, Enhancing the Value and Professionalism of Door & Access Systems Dealers.

If you have any other questions or concerns, always feel free to contact Royal Garage Door, your locally owned and family operated garage door and opener professionals. Help our family keep your family safe!