The holidays bring a lot of comings and goings: trips to see family, a steady stream of package deliveries, houseguests with extra cars, and long weekends away. Through all of it, the garage door is often the busiest door in the house.
It’s also one of the easiest to overlook. A door left open while you unload groceries, a remote clipped to the visor of a car parked outside, or an older opener with outdated security can give someone an easy way into your home at the time of year you’re least likely to notice.
A few simple steps can keep your garage, and everything behind it, secure through the season.
Why the Garage Is a Weak Spot
Most garage break-ins aren’t sophisticated. They take advantage of a few common gaps:
- A door left open. It only takes a few minutes for someone to walk in and grab a bike, tools or holiday gifts stashed in the garage.
- Remotes left in cars. A remote clipped to the visor of a car parked in the driveway or on the street is an open invitation if the car is broken into, especially if the registration with your address is in the glove box.
- Older openers. Openers made before the mid-1990s often use fixed codes that can be copied. Modern openers use rolling codes that change with every press.
- The emergency release. On some doors, a hooked tool pushed through the top gap can catch the release cord. A release shield, a small guard sold for this purpose, helps prevent it without blocking the release in an emergency.
- An unlocked door into the house. Many people lock the front door and forget the one between the garage and the kitchen. Once inside the garage, that door is the only thing between an intruder and the rest of the home.
Packages, Deliveries and Smart Openers
Porch piracy spikes during the holidays, and the garage can help. Many smart openers now work with major retailers’ in-garage delivery programs: the driver gets one-time access, the door opens just enough or long enough for the drop-off, and you get an alert and often a video clip when it closes again.
Even without delivery programs, smart openers are useful this time of year:
- Alerts tell you when the door opens and closes, so you’re never left wondering whether you shut it before leaving for the airport.
- Remote close lets you fix it from anywhere if you didn’t.
- Temporary access codes let a pet sitter, neighbor or visiting family member in without handing out a remote.
- Activity logs show when the door was used and by whom.
If your opener isn’t smart, many models can add these features with an inexpensive plug-in accessory. Older openers without rolling codes are worth replacing outright.
Before You Leave Town
If you’ll be away for more than a night or two, take ten minutes before you go:
- Confirm the door is closed and that it closes fully, with no gap at the bottom.
- Lock the door between the garage and the house, ideally with a deadbolt.
- Turn on vacation mode or lock-out if your opener or wall console has it. It disables remotes while you’re gone.
- Take the remote out of any car you leave parked outside, including at the airport.
- Unplug the opener if you don’t have a lock-out feature and don’t need remote access. Just remember someone at home will need the emergency release or a key to get in.
- Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out, move packages, and let you know if the door is ever open.
- Keep it quiet online. Posting vacation photos in real time tells people your house is empty.
A working, well-maintained door is part of security, too. If your door has been sticking, reversing or not closing all the way, get it checked before you leave. A door that stops a few inches short of the floor is as good as open.
Hosting, Decorating and a Busy Garage
The garage often becomes overflow storage, a second fridge, a staging area for parties, or a play space for visiting kids. A few precautions keep it safe:
- Keep the door’s path clear. Coolers, boxes of decorations and folding tables tend to pile up near the opening. Anything in the door’s path can trigger the safety sensors or get struck.
- Don’t run extension cords under the door. It’s tempting for outdoor lights and inflatables, but a cord under the door can be crushed, keep the door from sealing, and confuse the auto-reverse. Use an outdoor outlet or a cord cover routed around the frame.
- Watch the kids. Remind young visitors that the garage door isn’t a toy, keep remotes and wall buttons out of reach, and never let anyone race under a closing door.
- Test the auto-reverse before a big gathering. Place a roll of paper towels on the floor in the door’s path. It should reverse on contact.
- Mind the decorations. Wreaths and hanging lights on the outside of the door can catch on the frame or weatherstripping as it opens. Keep them light and secured flat.
When to Call a Pro
The weeks before the holidays are a good time for a quick professional checkup, especially if your door is noisy, slow, or reversing for no clear reason, or if your opener is old enough to lack rolling-code security. A technician can tune up the door, test the safety features and recommend whether a smart upgrade makes sense for your household.
If something does go wrong while you’re away or hosting, such as a door that won’t close, a broken spring or a door off its track, don’t force it. Springs and cables are under heavy tension. Leave the door as it is, keep people clear, and call for service.
A little attention now means one less thing to worry about while you’re enjoying the season.
About the Author
This article was written by the team at MOJA Garage Doors, a family-owned garage door company serving homeowners and businesses across the greater Sacramento, California area. The licensed, bonded and insured team installs, repairs and maintains garage doors, springs and openers, including smart openers and safety sensor service Contact Us.
