Do you have pets? If so, you’ve probably already realized that garages can be dangerous places for pets. Garages tend to be full of chemicals that can be dangerous for curious pets who wander in. Garages can also be dangerously hot places in summer and dangerously cold in winter – so it’s important to ensure your pet is never accidentally trapped in your garage. Finally, garage doors themselves can be dangerous if they don’t have the proper garage safety features in place.
You can protect your pet from these dangers if you spend some time pet-proofing your garage. Here’s what you need to know about making your garage safer for your furry friend.
1. Put Up the Chemicals
Keep your pet out of the household chemicals by locking cleaning products, fertilizers, and other toxic substances into cabinets where your pet or pets can’t get to them. If you don’t have any secure ground-level cabinets, put chemicals on open shelving high above the ground – unless your pet is the kind of pet that might hop onto the open shelving. Know your pet and what they’re likely to get into!
2. Test the Garage Safety Features
Since the early ’90s, garage doors have been built with safety features that prevent the door from shutting on any object or living being that might be laying in your garage doorway. Test your garage door safety features by waving a broom in front of the photoelectric eyes near the bottom of the garage door. Do this while the garage door is closing. If the door reverses course and opens, then the photoelectric eyes are working. If the door continues to close, this means the photoelectric eyes need to be cleaned with a microfiber cloth.
Next, place a 2×4 in the middle of the garage door opening, then shut the garage door. When the door closes on the 2×4, it should reverse course and open again. If the door remains shut on the 2×4, the door needs to be repaired. Get repairs from a garage door professional.
3. Check Before Closing the Garage Door
Animals have a way of sneaking in the garage when you’re not looking. If you’ve left the garage door open, always check your garage for your pet before shutting the garage door for the day. This will help ensure that the garage is not closed up with your pet inside. If your pet goes missing, make the garage one of the first places you check while you’re looking.
4. Use Pet-Safe Anti-Freeze
Anti-freeze is a poison. Unfortunately, anti-freeze has a sweet flavor that pets like. Pet-safe anti-freeze doesn’t taste as good, and it’s not as toxic. Buy pet-safe anti-freeze for your garage, if you must keep anti-freeze on hand.
Garage Safety Features Need Tweaks? Contact Overhead Door Company of Wilmington
Are you concerned about garage door safety? Contact Overhead Door Company of Wilmington. We’ll test your garage door safety features and make repairs, or recommend replacement if that’s needed. Call today!
