Maintenance Tips for Garage Doors
Garage doors play a vital role in our homes. We not only use them to store important items, but they also serve as access points to residences and offices.
These doors are so important that we cannot afford to have them malfunction. Regular maintenance is needed to keep them in good working condition.
Therefore, this article reveals 10 garage door maintenance tips for the smooth running of your garage doors. Below are all the tips;
Observe the Door Carefully
Careful observation of your garage door is crucial for spotting the issues making the door function poorly. Use manual and automatic control options to open the door.
Look at the door and listen for any unusual sounds. Verify if the door is working smoothly with little or no noise. Be sure the door is not jerking or catching.
Check for signs that indicate the door may be working abnormally. When you notice anything, you can address the issue by implementing the right measures.
Clear the Tracks
This is a simple maintenance routine for garage doors. Dirt and debris usually collect over time on the tracks. The buildup of such impurities impedes the smooth working of the door.
Brush the track gently to remove dirt. After that, use a wet rag to clean the leftover impurities on the track.
Although this can be handled by almost anyone, it is best to seek professional assistance for serious adjustments and repairs. This is necessary to ensure that the needed repairs are done safely on the tracks.
Ensure Hardware is Tightened
Due to how frequently you use your garage door, bolts and nuts may become loose with time. Use tools like a screwdriver and socket wrench to fasten the nuts, bolts, and roller brackets.
Avoid over-tightening those components since that can lead to wear and tear and serious damage. Be gentle when you tighten the bottom roller fixture hardware or any other sensitive hardware.
Adjusting or tightening such hardware can damage the garage door and compromise safety. So, it is best you leave such responsibilities to experienced technicians.
Check Cables
Check cables for any kind of damage. Damaged cables are not good for garage doors because they can strain door parts, which could lead to safety problems.
Consult a professional if you intend to adjust or repair cables. This is because cables are designed to work under high tension.
Quickly reach out to a technician should you notice any broken or frayed cables. Try parking your vehicle outside and explore other access points while awaiting trained technicians to fix any broken cables.
Examine Rollers
Garage doors are designed to move smoothly on rollers. These rollers enable the door to move along the track. When the rollers go bad, they could present a challenge to the door’s operation.
Find out if the rollers have any wear, chips, or cracks. It is okay to replace bad rollers when they do not have any direct attachment to cables or cable system.
Ensure that rollers are free from debris, so they are not hindered in their movement along the track.
Lubricate Hardware
The moving parts of a garage door should be regularly lubricated to prevent wear and friction from happening.
Lubricating your garage door is a straightforward task that will keep your door working in good condition for many years to come. It is a quick and simple task!
When garage doors open slowly, it is a sign that they are not properly lubricated. A simple lubrication can make the door open as it should.
Apply the recommended lubricant on the opener’s chain, rollers, tracks, hinges, and springs. This will help your overhead door component perform optimally for many years.
However, note that garage doors with nylon rollers do not need any form of lubrication to work well. They are designed to function without lubrication in their lifetime.
The Door Must Be Properly Balanced
Any imbalance in your garage door can cause unnecessary weight on some of the door components.
With time, the excess stress on those components will cause wear on the garage door, resulting in costly repairs.
To check the door’s balance, ensure it is closed completely. Then, pull the release handle to disconnect the opener. Manually lift the door until it is halfway open, and leave it to fall down.
If the garage door is balanced, it will remain half open. Otherwise, it might change its position, indicating a spring or cable defect.
High-tension components like cables and springs should be left for professionals to handle because of the risks involved in working with them.
Replace Weatherstripping
This rubber seal protects the bottom of the garage door from unfavorable weather elements, like water and others. It keeps water away from the interior part of the garage door.
Changing the weather strip when it is bad is a reliable way to protect the garage door in extreme weather conditions.
These rubber seals also prevent airflow between the garage door and its immediate atmosphere, helping you to save money on energy bills and ensuring the right temperature within the garage.
Safety Features
Consider safety features when carrying out maintenance. Features such as mechanical auto-reverse and photoelectric sensors are designed to prevent garage doors from causing accidents.
Do the necessary to check the functional status of these features. This helps to ensure the safety of everyone that comes around the garage door.
Clean the Door
Inspect the garage door for wear and tear. These doors are normally exposed to weather elements and impurities that can cause wear and tear.
Your garage door should always be clean. Use a mild soap to wash it so dirt does not settle and build up on it.
Conclusion
Taking the necessary preventive measures on your garage door can enable it work well and prevent you from spending heavily due to severe damage.
Don’t panic if you experience any issues when using DIY measures to maintain your garage door. Instead, reach out to a trusted garage door company like Miami Garage Door to discuss any issue.
With our team of experts and plenty of experience, be assured that we can handle any type of garage door issue.
Give us a call today if you notice anything strange with your garage door!