For homeowners, safety and accessibility are top priorities—especially for primary entry and exit points. Unfortunately, many residences remain vulnerable: an estimated one in 15 garages and three out of four gate systems lack modern safety features that protect everyone who interacts with garage door openers or automatic gates.
As National Safety Month draws to a close, here are practical tips for keeping these frequently used access points secure—whether you’re away on vacation or just stepping out for a moment—courtesy of LiftMaster:
- Don’t Chance It. Check It.®: For more than 70 percent of homeowners, the garage is the primary entry point, making it essential that garage door openers operate safely and reliably. “At LiftMaster, safety is our top priority,” said John Villanueva, Vice President of Marketing at LiftMaster. To help homeowners confirm their operators are functioning correctly, LiftMaster developed a simple 3-Step Safety Check that takes only a few minutes and should be performed regularly—alongside other routine safety checks like testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Ensure devices meet current safety standards: If you live or work in a gated community, or simply use an automatic gate at your property, make sure the system includes proper safety equipment and complies with current industry standards set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). UL standards require that gate operators equipped with the UL label include safety devices such as photo eyes or sensing edges, and that the operator ceases to function if those devices fail. Watch for signs of malfunction and arrange prompt repairs or upgrades when necessary.
- Professional installation and routine maintenance: Garage door openers and automatic gates are heavy, mechanically complex systems. Professional installation is recommended to ensure correct setup and safe operation. While homeowners can perform basic visual inspections and the LiftMaster 3-Step Safety Check on garage door openers, automatic gates should be inspected and serviced by a safety-trained dealer to verify proper operation and compliance with safety standards.
Following these straightforward steps will help homeowners keep garages and automatic gates both safe and functional.
Thanks to LiftMaster for sharing these valuable safety tips.