Garages are one of the most safe and convenient ways to enter your home and protect your belongings. However, as with any household device, there are certain precautions to take to avoid injury. These garage door safety tips are simple to follow and easy to implement.

Easy To Follow Garage Safety Tips

Schedule Regular Maintenance

Whether you're getting your car's oil changed or replacing the string on your weed eater, you realize that maintenance is required on many household items. Garage doors are no different. Rusty springs, rickety railing, or lopsided doors can quickly turn into a hazard. In addition to new sales and emergency assistance, Overhead Door also offer repairs service to its customers. Schedule yours by clicking here.

Update Equipment

Sensors that detect objects near where the door closes can prevent many injuries each year. If your sensor is becoming unreliable, it may be time to change it out. Also, if you've noticed holes or jagged edges in your garage door, it could be time to consider updating your garage door entirely. Exposed metal can cut your skin. Additionally, any open "pockets" in your garage door can create hidey-holes for all sorts of creatures. Learn more about making your garage inhospitable to unwelcome guests.

Teach Garage Safety

There are almost 11,000 garage related injuries each year. Sadly, many of these can be prevented. Unsurprisingly, hand injuries are among the most common, followed by head injuries. It is especially important to teach children that the garage to stay clear of the doors as they are opening or closing. Additionally, be sure to keep an eye out for pets that may become trapped as the doors close. Also, leave the maintenance to the Overhead Door experts. Choosing a professional to work on your garage door can prevent injuries, as well.

Go High Tech

By choosing OHD Anywhere™, our trademarked digital app, you're taking safety into your own hands. With this convenient app, you're able to track the history of how often your garage door opens. You're also able to remotely open and close the door. This is really convenient for the times when you need to let a repair person into your home. Additionally, it alerts you if the door has been open, whether with the opener or manually. It's a great safety option from Overhead Door

Interested in setting up a estimate to make sure your garage is as safe as possible? Schedule your appointment with us today!

Unfortunately, there are many people who happily take advantage of those in need. Garage door service is no different. No one wants to be conned. That's why the professionals at Overhead Door are sharing ways to spot a garage door scam. 

They Offer Insanely Cheap Fees

Watch out for companies advertising low or no service call fees. Most reputable companies charge approximately $100 for a service call - this fee covers the cost of using a trained technician who has the skills to properly diagnose and correct garage door issues. Cheap companies often lure in customers with inexpensive initial rates, then price gouge them later.

They Have a Website, but No Supporting Facts

Just because you find a company online doesn't mean that it's a legitimate company. It's important to research reviews, ask your sphere of friends and family, and do what you can to verify the company's claims. Just because someone has a website doesn't mean they're qualified to work on your garage door.

They Push to Begin Work Quickly

While most service companies want to get your garage door up and running quickly, use caution with companies who won't provide a total written estimate. Though some jobs can become more involved once a technician begins the work, scammers will quickly tear your door apart, then demand exorbitant fees to reassemble it (assuming they can put it back together).

They Want Free Reign

Unless you have an excellent security system or you're working with a company you can trust, be cautious of who you allow into your home. Before the technician arrives, put away valuables. Some would-be thieves will use the guise of a service call to case your home. Additionally, don't leave your home unattended while the technician completes his or her work.

Are you looking for a name you can trust? Overhead Door has decades of experience - our customers rely on us to protect their homes and offer reasonable service rates. To schedule an appointment with our professionals, contact us today!

Get those packed lunches ready and the backpack supplied - it's time for back to school! Getting the kids back into a school year routine can be a bit hectic. However, the staff at Overhead Door provides these back to school garage safety tips so your family is protected, even during the running around before classes begin.

Always Pay Attention

Even if you're in a hurry, make sure that you're aware of your surroundings as you back in and out of the garage. When people are running late, it's easier to skip routine safety precautions. Before moving your vehicle, make sure every person is accounted for and safely secured inside. Be sure to also watch out for pets entering and exiting the garage area.

Watch the Garage Door

Kids are bound to forget a few items, especially during the first few weeks of getting back into a schedule. If your child has to go back inside for something, teach them to wait until the garage door is full opened before entering. Additionally, before you start to close the garage door when you leave, be sure that children have safely exited the area.

Conduct Sensor Checks

The eye of your garage's safety sensor can go out after years of use. Be sure to schedule a routine garage safety check with Overhead Door to make sure that it's working properly. 

Invest in Added Security Options

If your children are allowed to walk home from school, consider the OHD Anywhere™ app for your phone. That way, you know when they've arrived or if they've come home when they shouldn't. Additionally, it's helpful on school days when you're running behind - especially if you've forgotten to shut the garage door when you left.

Teach Outside of the Classroom

Take the opportunity to teach your children about garage safety, especially younger kiddos. It's an opportunity to share valuable information and help them learn to be more alert and cautious about their surroundings.

Do you need a back to school garage door check to make sure everything is in working order? Schedule your appointment with Overhead Door today. Our fast, friendly technicians can help you make sure it's in the right condition.

Your garage is often one of the messiest places of your home. It sees a lot of traffic because it's also used as a storage area. However, it's important to keep your garage tidy for health and safety reasons. We're here to share some tips on how to clean up garage messes, based on common issues people see.

Garage Mess #1 - Greasy Spills

Whether it's from storing vehicles or yard equipment, it's highly likely that your garage has seen its share of oil leaks. These leaks can cause a big mess, whether it's from staining your floors to being tracked into the house by an unknowing pedestrian. They can also be dangerous. Many slips and falls occur from oil or grease spills.

However, they are relatively simple to clean up. If there is standing oil or grease, you can use a surprising ingredient to soak up the excess...inexpensive clay kitty litter! Sprinkle the cat litter on top of the standing oil or grease. Over the course of the day, the litter will soak it up. Simply brush the litter granules into a dust pan and dispose in the trash. You can also use sawdust. If you notice stains on the floor, we recommend check out this blog for more information.

Garage Mess #2 - The Unwanted Houseguests

In months of extreme weather, your garage is seen as an oasis to the high or low temperatures to a variety of critters. These include ants, spiders, rodents, snakes, birds, and stray animals. Part of keeping these creatures in the great outdoors where they belong is keeping a clean garage. By following our garage organization tips, you also create a less-hospitable environment for these animals. Additionally, it is important to:

• Dust frequently to remove spider webs and wasp nests.
• Hire an exterminator for quarterly pest treatments, particularly if you have continued issues.
• Patch any broken windows or holes leading into your garage.

Garage Mess # 3 - The Sticky Mess

Many Americans keep a second refrigerator in their garage. Others use it as a place to get together and host cookouts there. This can lead to all sorts of messes. Exploding sodas, spilled food, or broken cleaning supplies such as soap can make a big, slippery mess out of your garage. It's important to clean up these spills as they happen to avoid any really nasty messes. However, if you don't catch them in time, you can usually clean up sticky messes by combining extremely hot water with a grease-cutting liquid detergent (such as Dawn). Soak up the solution with a towel and place over the sticky substance for 30 minutes. The heat from the water and grease cutting agent in the detergent will make the mess easier to clean up.

Looking to hide your messy garage with a beautiful new garage door? That's no problem at all! Our design consultants are here to help.

It's something most homeowners don't think of during the holidays…garage safety. But think about it! You are in and out of your garage more during the holidays (getting out decorations, storing gifts, countless shopping trips to the grocery store and mall…). It's exhausting just thinking about it! We're here to make sure you stay safe during the holidays.

Keeping the garage door shut at all times
Did you know the garage is a burglars favorite point of entry? Especially during the holidays! Make sure you keep your garage closed while you are there AND away. An easy way for you to avoid leaving the garage open with children around is having a keypad installed. This will allow the children to type in the code without have to use a car clicker. Also, make sure to keep the door connected to the garage locked. If for some reason someone does enter your garage, the worst thing that could happen is they enter your house as well. 
 
Lighting
Install automatic lighting around your garage door to keep unwanted visitors away. This is also a safety precaution for your family members trying to enter in the garage in the dark.
 
Animals
A garage can be an easy “mud room” for your pets (especially with colder temperatures). Do not lock them in the garage without a way to enter the house or venture into the yard. Leave plenty of water out. A great way to give your pet access to the garage area is to install a doggy door, that way they may come and go as they please. If you do bring them in during the winter weather, be sure to set out blankets…but say no to space heaters!
 
Storage
Keep your garage clean and organized. Objects can cause someone to trip and fall if they are just cluttered around. Ladders need to be hung horizontally so a child will no try to climb it. Robes and wires need to be placed along the wall to avoid tangling. And when it rains, sweep up afterwards, the smooth concrete can create quite the ice rink.
 
Cautious
A garage door is the heaviest and biggest machinery in your home. Watch for children, animals, and objects before you choose to close the garage. We suggest walking along the door line to insure nothing will be hit once the door comes down. Make sure your garage door has an automated system to stop the door when it reaches an unfamiliar object.
 
Fire hazards
Garages aren’t exempt from the rules of fire safety. With all the fertilizer, chemicals, paints, and gasoline, make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case. We suggest using a Class B/C fire extinguisher.

Enjoy your holiday season and stay safe! For all of your garage door needs, contact Overhead Door. We are always happy to help!

How will you celebrate this 4th of July holiday? A backyard barbecue? Spending the day on the lake? However you choose to celebrate, we want to make sure you stay as safe as possible. Check out our 4th of July garage safety tips!

4th Of July Safety Tips:

1. BBQs Out-We're all for you having a backyard barbecue, but keep the grill in the backyard. Since we're sure you have flammable liquids in your garage (paint thinners, gasoline, etc.), it is best to keep your grill in a well-ventilated space.

2. Firework Storage-While it is not ideal to store fireworks in your garage, you can get by with it (temporarily) using these hints: Keep the fireworks in their original packaging. Keep the fireworks away from any heat source (heaters, furnace, etc.) Keep the fireworks away from flammable liquids. Keep the fireworks away from children. It is best to store the fireworks in a part of your garage that is empty (or close to empty) and isolated.

3. Keep It Cool-For some people, their garage is the "hot spot," the place where people gather to watch a game, play ping pong, or enjoy a drink. Make sure your garage is not literally the hot spot this 4th of July by remembering these tips: Crack your garage door about a foot to let hot air escape. Set up revolving free standing fans for ventilation and extra air flow. If you have time, you can always paint your garage door a light color (white or beige) to keep it from absorbing the sun's rays. You'll be surprised how much this small change can cool your garage!

4. Have An Extinguisher-You should always keep a fire extinguisher in your garage in case of emergency. You can easily attach it to the wall so it doesn't take up garage space or get buried under other garage "necessities." Make yourself familiar with how to use it by reading the instruction manual and handling it yourself. This way, in the case that you need to use it, you won't be fumbling around in an emergency situation.

We hope our 4th of July garage safety tips will help you stay safe and have fun this 4th of July! Remember Overhead Door for all your garage door needs. We're a trusted company providing expert service and quality products. Give us a call or contact us HERE!

Happy 4th of July from Overhead Door!

Summer is coming and what family doesn’t want to take a trip somewhere? Well, like so many others, you want your home to be in the same condition as when you left it. Break-ins are a very common crime these days, sad to say, but there are ways to protect your home while you are away. So instead of wondering, “Is my home protected?” you can enjoy your vacation! Here are some helpful tips for garage security.

Who Has My Keypad Code?

First off, you should never give your code out to anyone that you do not trust. If your house is being built and the contractor has the code to your garage, he may give it to another one of his employees. Now there are 2 people (you have no idea who they are, where they live, or what they do outside of work) who have access to your home. Not that those people are not good people, you just wouldn’t want to trust your most precious things in life with JUST anyone. One helpful tip from us is to change your code as soon as you move into your home!  (Find out how to change your code by clicking the link at the bottom.)

Change Your Code.

Another helpful tip that goes along with your code is changing your code every 6 months. This not only protects your home from burglaries, but it can also keep anyone who has your code (and don’t want in your home) OUT. Some situations come up where that is they only option that you have… to give someone your garage code. But, it is a safety precaution to change your code every 6 months.

Bring Your Opener Inside!

Something else to consider would be taking your garage door opener inside! If the vehicle that you leave at home while you are on your vacation has your garage door opener on your visor, take it inside. If you have someone trying to break into your car, they might be smart enough to see your opener and then have access to your home. You can never be too safe when it comes to your home. Following these easy steps can keep you and your family protected.

Click here for the steps you can take to change your code. You always want your home to be your safe place, make sure it stays that way!