How often should I have my garage door serviced?

We recommend professional garage door maintenance at least once a year. Regular maintenance helps prevent unexpected breakdowns, extends the life of your door and opener, and ensures all safety features are working correctly. During a maintenance visit, our technicians will: - Inspect all springs, cables, rollers, and hardware - Lubricate all moving parts - Test and adjust the balance - Check safety features including photo eyes and auto-reverse - Tighten loose bolts and hardware - Identify potential problems before they become expensive repairs If your door gets heavy use (more than 4-5 cycles per day) or if you have an older system, you may benefit from twice-yearly maintenance. Commercial doors typically require quarterly service. Between professional visits, you can help maintain your door by: - Keeping the tracks clean and free of debris - Listening for unusual sounds during operation - Visually inspecting springs and cables monthly - Testing the balance and safety features quarterly

What are the signs that my garage door springs need replacement?

Garage door springs are under extreme tension and will eventually wear out. Here are the key warning signs that your springs may need replacement: **Immediate Warning Signs:** - A visible gap in the spring coils (indicates a broken spring) - A loud bang from the garage (the sound of a spring breaking) - The door won't open at all or feels extremely heavy - The door opens only a few inches then stops - The opener strains to lift the door **Signs of Wear:** - The door is difficult to open manually - The door closes faster than normal - The door hangs crooked or uneven - Springs appear stretched, rusted, or corroded - You hear squeaking or grinding when the door operates **Important Safety Note:** Garage door springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury or death if they break or are improperly handled. Never attempt to replace springs yourself. Always call a professional like Garage Door Hubbard for spring replacement. Most residential torsion springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles (one cycle = one open and one close). If your household opens the door 4 times per day, springs should last about 7 years. High-cycle springs are available for doors with heavier use.

Do you offer emergency garage door repair services?

Yes! We understand that garage door emergencies don't wait for convenient times. Garage Door Hubbard offers same-day emergency repair services for urgent situations. **What Qualifies as an Emergency:** - Your door is stuck open, leaving your home unsecured - A broken spring has rendered the door inoperable - The door has come off its tracks - A car has backed into the door - The door is stuck closed and you can't access your vehicle - Safety systems have failed **Our Emergency Response:** - Quick response times, often same-day - Experienced technicians available 7 days a week - Fully stocked service vehicles for common repairs - Transparent pricing, even for emergency calls - Professional, courteous service **How to Request Emergency Service:** Call us immediately at 541-845-8766. Let our team know it's an emergency situation, describe the problem, and we'll dispatch a technician as quickly as possible. **Tips While You Wait:** - If the door is stuck open, stay with your home if possible - Don't attempt to force the door or fix it yourself - Keep children and pets away from the door - If springs have broken, do not try to operate the door - Disconnect the opener if the door is behaving erratically We're committed to helping Hubbard residents get their garage doors back in working order as quickly and safely as possible.

Essential Garage Door Safety Features Every Family Should Know About

Name: Garage Door Hubbard
Address: 3Rd St, Hubbard, OR, 97032, US
Telephone: 541-845-8766
Price range: $$

December 20, 2025 6 min read

# Essential Garage Door Safety Features Every Family Should Know About

Your garage door is a marvel of engineering, but it's also one of the largest and heaviest moving objects in your home. A standard two-car garage door can weigh 300 to 500 pounds.more than enough to cause serious injury or death if safety features fail or are bypassed. Understanding these safety features and maintaining them properly is essential for protecting your family.

The History of Garage Door Safety

Prior to 1993, garage door injuries and fatalities were alarmingly common. Children were particularly at risk, as automatic openers lacked modern safety features. Tragically, an average of seven children died each year from garage door-related accidents.

In response, the Consumer Product Safety Commission mandated that all garage door openers sold after January 1, 1993, include entrapment protection features. These regulations have dramatically reduced injuries and saved countless lives.

Essential Safety Features

Photo Eye Sensors

The photo eye system consists of two sensors mounted on either side of the garage door, approximately six inches above the floor. One sensor emits an invisible infrared beam, while the other receives it. When anything interrupts this beam while the door is closing, the door immediately stops and reverses.

Testing Photo Eyes: 1. Start with the door open 2. Press the close button on your remote or wall console 3. While the door is closing, wave a broom handle or similar object through the beam 4. The door should immediately stop and reverse 5. If it doesn't, contact a professional immediately

Maintaining Photo Eyes: - Clean the lenses with a soft cloth monthly, Check alignment regularly.the indicator lights should be solid, Ensure nothing obstructs the beam path, Replace sensors if indicator lights flash or are dim

Auto-Reverse Mechanism

Even if the photo eyes fail, the auto-reverse feature provides a backup safety system. When the door encounters resistance while closing, it automatically reverses direction. This force-sensing mechanism protects against entrapment in case someone or something is in the door's path but not crossing the photo eye beam.

Testing Auto-Reverse: 1. Place a 2x4 flat on the floor in the door's path 2. Press the close button 3. When the door contacts the board, it should immediately reverse 4. If the door continues to press down, the force settings need adjustment

Note: Adjusting force settings should be done by a professional. Incorrect settings can either make the door unsafe or prevent proper closing.

Manual Release Handle

Every automatic garage door opener includes an emergency manual release.typically a red handle and cord hanging from the opener rail. Pulling this handle disconnects the door from the opener, allowing manual operation in case of power outages or opener malfunctions.

Teaching Your Family: - Show all family members where the release handle is located, Demonstrate how to use it safely, Practice opening and closing the door manually, Emphasize that the door should be fully closed before pulling the release (an open door can fall rapidly)

Motion-Detection Lighting

While not strictly a safety feature, integrated motion-detection lighting improves safety by illuminating the garage when someone enters. This helps prevent trips and falls and deters intruders.

Additional Safety Best Practices

Never Leave the Door Partially Open

A partially open garage door is both a security risk and a safety hazard. The door may drop unexpectedly if springs fail or if someone accidentally activates the opener. Always fully open or fully close your garage door.

Keep Remote Controls Secure

Garage door remotes should be treated like house keys: - Don't leave them in visible locations in your car, Don't give them to people you don't trust completely, Consider using smartphone-based control for better security, Replace batteries before they die completely

Supervise Children Near the Garage

Children should be taught that garage doors are not toys: - Keep wall controls mounted high (at least 5 feet up) - Don't allow children to play with remote controls, Never allow children to race under a closing door, Teach children to wait until the door is fully open or closed before approaching

Regular Professional Maintenance

Annual professional maintenance is the best way to ensure all safety features are functioning correctly: - Technicians test all safety systems, Springs and cables are inspected for wear, Force and limit settings are verified and adjusted, Potential problems are identified before they become dangerous

Modernize Outdated Openers

If your garage door opener was manufactured before 1993, it likely lacks modern safety features. While these units may still function, they don't meet current safety standards. Consider upgrading to a modern opener with: - Photo eyes and auto-reverse, Rolling code security, Battery backup, Smart connectivity

When to Be Concerned

Contact a professional immediately if you notice: - Photo eye indicator lights that flash or don't illuminate, The door doesn't reverse when it contacts an object, The door reverses unexpectedly during normal operation, Unusual sounds during operation, The door seems heavier or harder to move, Visible damage to springs, cables, or tracks

Garage Door Hubbard: Your Safety Partner

At Garage Door Hubbard, safety is our top priority. We offer comprehensive safety inspections, maintenance services, and upgrades to ensure your garage door protects your family rather than putting them at risk.

Contact us at 541-845-8766 to schedule a safety inspection or to learn more about upgrading your garage door system to meet modern safety standards.

Back to Blog