Garage Door Accidents: Common Causes and Prevention Tips for Texas Homeowners
Every year, thousands of families experience preventable garage door accidents that result in serious injuries or property damage. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people are injured in garage door accidents annually, with many of these incidents occurring right here in Texas homes. At Texas Garage Door and Opener, we’ve dedicated ourselves to keeping families safe by providing expert installation, maintenance, and education about proper garage door operation.
Your garage door is likely the largest moving object in your home, and understanding potential hazards is the first step toward protecting your loved ones. With Texas’s extreme climate conditions, including scorching summers that can exceed 100°F and unpredictable storms, garage doors face additional stress that can lead to malfunctions if not properly maintained. Our team brings years of experience serving the local community, and we’re committed to helping you create a safer home environment through professional service and practical safety guidance.
How to Prevent Garage Door Injuries and Keep Your Family Safe
Garage door safety starts with awareness. Many homeowners don’t realize the potential dangers lurking in their garage until an accident occurs. By understanding common risks and implementing preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of injury while extending the life of your garage door system.
Understanding the Most Common Garage Door Accidents
More than 2,000 people per year are crushed by garage doors, while over 7,500 people experience pinching injuries during garage door operation. These statistics paint a sobering picture of the risks associated with garage door operation, particularly when safety features fail or maintenance is neglected.
Crushing Accidents
Crushing injuries represent some of the most serious garage door accidents. These typically occur when someone attempts to pass under a closing door, or when a door unexpectedly falls due to spring failure or malfunctioning safety sensors. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they may not fully understand the danger of playing near or under a moving garage door. Only about 100 crushing accidents per year are caused by personal negligence, such as a child or pet trying to dash under a closing door, with the majority resulting from mechanical failures or missing safety features.
Pinching and Crushing Injuries to Fingers and Hands
The mechanical complexity of garage doors creates multiple pinch points where fingers can become caught. These accidents often happen when someone places their hand on the door panels as it moves or grabs the door near the hinges or tracks. The powerful force exerted by the door’s spring system can cause severe lacerations, broken bones, or even amputations in extreme cases.
Broken Glass Hazards
Upwards of 800 people each year visit the emergency room with cuts caused by garage door glass. Older garage doors often lack shatter-resistant glass, making them especially dangerous. In Texas’s extreme heat, thermal expansion can also stress glass panels, increasing the risk of breakage. Flying glass shards can cause deep cuts and serious injuries during storms or if the door is struck.
Spring-Related Accidents
Garage door springs store enormous tension to counterbalance the door’s weight, which can exceed 400 pounds. When a spring breaks while the door is in the closed position, it could come crashing down immediately with the full force of 200 or 300 pounds. Spring failures can also cause the spring mechanism itself to become a dangerous projectile. Attempting DIY spring repairs without proper training and tools is extremely hazardous and should always be left to professionals.
Why Professional Maintenance Matters in Texas’s Climate
Texas’s climate presents unique challenges for garage door systems. The intense summer heat can cause metal components to expand, putting additional stress on springs, cables, and tracks. Temperature fluctuations between scorching days and cooler nights can accelerate wear on mechanical parts. Humidity in certain areas of Texas can promote rust and corrosion, weakening critical components over time.
Regular professional maintenance is your best defense against these climate-related issues. During a comprehensive inspection, our technicians examine all critical components for signs of wear, test safety features to ensure proper operation, lubricate moving parts with products designed to withstand extreme temperatures, and identify potential problems before they lead to failures or accidents.
Texas Garage Door and Opener recommends professional maintenance at least twice per year, ideally before the peak summer heat and after severe weather seasons. This proactive approach prevents small issues from developing into dangerous malfunctions and extends the lifespan of your entire garage door system.
Essential Safety Features Every Texas Garage Door Should Have
Every garage door installed since 1993 should be equipped with a safety-reversing feature. If your garage door is older, it may lack modern safety mechanisms that are now standard on all new installations.
Photo-Eye Sensors
These sensors create an invisible beam across the garage door opening, typically positioned about six inches from the ground. If anything interrupts the beam while the door is closing, the door immediately stops and reverses direction. Test these sensors monthly by placing an object in the door’s path to ensure they’re functioning properly. Keep the sensor lenses clean and properly aligned for reliable operation.
Pressure-Sensitive Auto-Reverse
This backup safety feature detects resistance when the door encounters an object during closing. If the door makes contact with anything, it should automatically reverse. Test this feature regularly by placing a 2×4 board flat on the ground in the door’s path. The door should reverse when it touches the board.
Manual Release Mechanism
Every automatic garage door opener includes a manual release, typically a red cord hanging from the trolley. This allows you to manually open the door in case of power outages or mechanical failures. Make sure all family members know where this release is located and how to use it safely.
Practical Safety Tips for Texas Families
Implementing these safety practices can dramatically reduce the risk of garage door accidents in your home:
Supervise Children at All Times
Never allow children to play in or near the garage without adult supervision. Teach them that garage doors are not toys and establish clear rules about staying away from the door when it’s in motion. Store garage door remotes out of children’s reach, and consider installing a wall-mounted button high enough that young children cannot access it.
Keep Hands Clear of Moving Parts
Always keep fingers and hands away from the door’s panels, hinges, and tracks when the door is moving. Use the handles and never try to speed up the door’s movement by pushing or pulling on it during operation.
Wait for Complete Opening or Closing
Never walk or drive under a door that’s in motion. Wait until the door has completely opened before passing underneath, and ensure the door has fully closed before leaving your property. This simple practice can prevent most crushing accidents.
Inspect Your Door Regularly
Perform monthly visual inspections of your garage door. Look for signs of wear on cables, springs, and rollers. Listen for unusual sounds during operation, such as grinding, squealing, or popping noises, which may indicate problems. Check for rust on metal components, especially after humid weather or storms. Watch the door’s movement to ensure it opens and closes evenly without jerking or hesitating.
Address Problems Immediately
If you notice anything unusual about your garage door’s operation, stop using it and contact a professional immediately. Never attempt to repair springs, cables, or other high-tension components yourself. Garage doors are delicate and complex systems, and professional installation and repair is always recommended.
Special Considerations for Texas Weather
Texas homeowners face additional challenges when it comes to garage door safety. Extreme heat can cause door components to expand and malfunction, affecting the operation of safety sensors and automatic reversing features. After severe storms, inspect your door for damage such as dents, bent tracks, or water intrusion that could lead to rust. Consider upgrading to an insulated garage door, which provides better temperature regulation and reduces stress on mechanical components.
During hurricane season or severe weather warnings, ensure your garage door is properly secured and consider reinforcing it if you’re in a high-wind area. Never attempt to open a damaged door, as it may be unstable and dangerous.
The Importance of Professional Installation
Proper installation is crucial for garage door safety. Professional installers ensure that all safety features are correctly installed and calibrated, springs are properly tensioned for the door’s weight, tracks are level and aligned correctly, and all components meet current safety standards.
At Texas Garage Door and Opener, our certified technicians have the training and experience to install your garage door safely and correctly the first time. We never cut corners when it comes to safety, and we stand behind our work with comprehensive warranties.
When to Replace Your Garage Door
Sometimes repair isn’t enough, and replacement becomes the safer option. Consider replacing your garage door if it was manufactured before 1993 and lacks modern safety features, has suffered significant storm damage or structural compromise, requires frequent repairs that add up to a significant percentage of replacement cost, shows visible rust, rot, or deterioration that affects structural integrity, or operates inconsistently despite professional repairs.
A new garage door offers modern safety features, improved energy efficiency to combat Texas heat, enhanced curb appeal and home value, and reduced maintenance requirements.
Ready to Ensure Your Garage Door is Safe?
Don’t wait until an accident occurs to address garage door safety. At Texas Garage Door and Opener, we’re here to help you protect your family with professional maintenance, repairs, and installations that prioritize safety above all else.
Whether you need a comprehensive safety inspection, spring replacement, safety feature upgrades, or complete door replacement, our experienced team is ready to serve you. We understand the unique challenges that Texas weather presents, and we use only high-quality parts designed to withstand our demanding climate.
Contact Texas Garage Door and Opener today for a free safety inspection and estimate. Let us help you create a safer home environment with expert service you can trust. Your family’s safety is our top priority, and we’re committed to delivering the professional care you deserve.