Garage door security before vacation: an Ottawa summer checklist

Summer is peak travel season for Ottawa households — cottages, road trips, and flights. Before you leave, spend ten minutes on the garage door. It is often the largest opening into the home, and a door that will not close properly (or that still responds to an old remote) is an easy miss when packing bags.

Quick checks the night before you go

• Close and open once — confirm the door travels smoothly and seals at the floor. If it reverses or stops halfway, fix it before you leave (see our won't-close guide)
• Photo-eye sensors — keep the beam clear; bikes, bins, and summer gear often block sensors after a busy week
• Bottom seal — daylight under a closed door means drafts and a weaker seal against pests and weather
• Wall button and remotes — test the wall control and at least one remote; replace weak batteries now, not from the airport

Lock or disable the opener while you're away

Most openers have a lock feature on the wall control that ignores remotes and wireless keypads while still allowing the wall button. Use it if you will be gone more than a few days — especially if spare remotes are in a second vehicle or with a neighbour. When you return, unlock and test before relying on the remote again.

If you have a smart opener or camera, verify the app shows the door closed after you leave. Our opener service covers remotes, sensors, and lock features if something feels unreliable.

Keypad codes and spare access

Change or temporarily disable an outdoor keypad PIN if it has not been updated in years. Share a temporary code only with the person checking the house — and revoke it when you get home. Leave a spare remote with a trusted neighbour only if they know how to use the wall lock feature.

If something fails while you're gone

Tell your house-sitter: do not force a stuck or crooked door. A hung panel or broken spring is a safety issue — they should call a pro rather than yank the emergency release repeatedly. Ottawa Garage Tech is open daily 7 a.m.–9 p.m. at (613) 900-6005 for urgent secure-close problems.

One more summer tip

Heat and dry weather make squeaky rollers and dry hinges more noticeable. A short tune-up before a long trip is often quieter and more reliable than waiting until September — and quieter doors matter when bedrooms sit above the garage (see noisy garage door fixes).

Book before you leave Ottawa

Send a quick note or call if the door is already acting up. We serve Ottawa, Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, Nepean, Stittsville, and nearby communities — service areas.