If you’re planning on going for a vacation, you certainly have many tasks to check off your to-do list before you leave. One of your most important tasks before heading off, will be to ensure that your home is secured while you are gone. An easily overlooked area is the garage door, which can be a crucial point of entry so it is vital that you give it the attention it needs. Here are some tips that will help you prep your garage door so that you can be stress-free on your well deserved vacation.

Inspect the Garage Door and Garage Door System

Do a basic, routine inspection of your entire door and door system. Check the springs, rollers, tracks, cables, opener and door panels. Make sure that everything looks like it is in good condition. Parts that are failing can make it easier for the door to be compromised. Also, if your door looks damaged and uncared for on the outside, it can make it a more likely target for intruders. If you notice damage or worn parts, you should have it repaired before you leave. 

Wall Console for Garage Door Opener

Newer models of garage door openers may have a vacation lock feature so check your wall console to see if your opener has this. This is a lock-out feature which will lock all remotes, cars that are programmed to operate the door, and the wireless keypad if you have one. Once the feature is activated, you can use one device to close the door once, and then everything is locked until the feature is disabled. 

Unplug the Garage Door Opener

If your opener doesn’t have a vacation lock feature, you can simply unplug the opener from the power. This is a sure way your door cannot be operated electronically.

Manual Lock

If you have an opener without a built-in lock it can be a good idea to install a manual slide lock. This will lock the door from the inside, just remember to unlock it when you return, before you use your opener again or it could cause damage to the door system. 

Remove Remote Controls from Cars

This tip can be especially important if you do not have a vacation lock feature, or you can’t unplug the opener because you have people that will still need to have access to your garage while you are away. Any remote controls that are outside, like in your car, should be brought inside. Otherwise, a thief could break into the car and steal them, giving them access to your garage. 

Smart Monitoring

If your garage door opener has wifi, make sure you have it set up with the app on your smartphone. This allows you to control your door and monitor it from anywhere. Using the smartphone app, you will be able to grant access to whom you wish, and check to ensure the door is closed after they leave. You can also receive real time alerts when your door has been opened.

Check the Exterior Lighting

If you have a well lit exterior, it serves as a strong deterrent to buglers. Motion sensor lights are a great option.

Ask Neighbours to Have an Eye Out

Speak to a couple of trusted neighbours. Let them know the dates you will be out of town and ask them if they can have an eye on the place so that if they see anything unusual, they can either contact you or the police. 

Your garage door plays a very important role in your home security. Doing what you can before you leave for your vacation can allow you to relax, enjoy your time away, prevent headaches and a ruined trip! Following these tips can give you confidence that your home is safe while you are away!