When it comes to safety, garages are one of the weakest points in the house. They offer some of the easiest entry points for savvy burglars, they contain many dangerous implements that can wound kids and even unwary adults, and they tend to receive a lot less attention than other rooms in the house. If you live in an area that is especially sensitive to crime or if you simply want to improve the general safety of your garage door, use these features to improve your situation:
1. Keycodes: Keycodes consist of panels that you use to type in a specific code that opens your garage door. You can install these keycode panels either in addition to your typical remotes, or as a much more secure replacement for remotes. This way, only those who know the code can enter your garage, and you can easily change the code (typically a four digit list of numbers) at will.
2. Keychains: Keychains offer similar security to keycodes, but in a different. In this case the garage remote remains a handy one-touch button, but it is now attached to a dongle that is in turn attached to your keychain. This prevents the common problem of leaving access to your garage available to anyone who has access – criminal or otherwise – to your car. The dongles also have comparable prices when it comes to choosing keychains instead of remotes.
3. Proper Auto Reverse Features: The auto reverse feature is intended to help prevent any injuries that may occur if the garage door accidentally lowers onto a child or pet. The infrared sensors pick up motion and not only stop the garage door but actually reverse its trajectory, raising it open to help immediately release anyone who may be trapped. This is an important, often required feature, and if your garage door does not have it then you should make sure it is equipped.
4. Multiple Sensors: The infrared sensors that protect your garage door are not the only sensors that your garage should include. While many homes do not include it, a smoke detector can prove invaluable in preventing serious garage fires that can be caused by overheating machinery, malfunctioning HVAC appliances, or heaters used during wintertime. Likewise, a carbon monoxide detector can help detect dangerous gas levels if cars are turned on without proper ventilation.
5. Regular Cleaning: Regular cleaning in a garage is a requirement for proper safety. The floor should be a center of attention – oil spills and debris can cause people to slip or provide fuel for dangerous fires. Cleaning up other clutter can also help reduce the possibility of a fire – not to mention help prevent accidental injury caused by toppling equipment or items.
6. Dangerous Object Security: Those regular cleaning sessions should also include time devoted to securing any dangerous objects, specifically sharp objects, all power tools, and anything that can be used to start a fire. This will prevent children from accidentally injuring themselves or others, and will also aid overall garage safety and organization.
7. Wise Weight Management: Garages are great for storing extra items, but no matter how many racks or shelves you have, follow a simple rule: put heavy objects down toward the garage floor, and lighter objects up above. Storing heavy weight up can cause shelves to collapse and racks to teeter. Over the long term, can cause damage to your garage components and possibly injury when trying to hoist them down.
8. Deadbolt Locking: If you store high-price items in your garage or have expensive equipment that you do not want stolen or damaged, invest in a professional deadbolt that fits into your garage door for extra protection. These deadbolts prevent anyone from accessing your garage unless they can enter your house and disable them first.