If you have an older garage door that is still working but does not have some of the modern safety features in use today, replacing the door to make it safer is not always necessary. Many of the safety items on modern doors can be added to your original door by a garage door repair service without any alterations to the door. 

Update The Door Opener

One thing you can do to improve your garage door's safety is to upgrade the garage door opener to a modern unit. Installing a new door opener only takes a couple of hours, and most offer features like better lighting or systems to stop and reverse the door direction if anything is in the doorway. Some have a battery backup system that allows the door to operate even when the power is out. 

Changing the door opener can involve some changes to the brackets, but it should not affect anything on the door. If you have a vintage door you are trying to maintain and keep original, changing the opener will not alter the door in any way.

An updated door opener may offer faster operation, less noise, and compatibility with features like security keypads that allow kids to open the door and come in through the garage after school or for you to get in when you don't have the remote from your car with you. 

Doorway Safety Sensors

If safety is your primary concern, talk to the garage door repair tech about adding a doorway sensor that will sense when anything is blocking the doorway. The sensor installs on the inside of the door frame and uses a light beam to connect to the sensor on the opposite side. 

If anything or anybody breaks the beam, the sensor will signal the garage door opener, reversing it immediately. This system is one of the most common safety features on modern garage doors and can be added to any door that uses an electric opener. 

If you have children, pets, or people going in and out of the garage regularly, a doorway sensor is a must. The garage door repair service in your area can install this system for you and ensure it is working correctly.

Pressure strips along the bottom of the door can also be used to deflect the door should it come down unexpectedly, but the light sensors are faster to react and easier to install in most situations. Talk to your garage door repair service about the best option for your garage door, and they can help you make your garage door safe and secure.