Homeowners are used to performing maintenance on their home, but one area they may not consider very much is their garage door. Yet, as the largest entry and exit point in their home, and submitted to almost daily use and a host of outdoor elements, it should be high on your priority list. Proper garage door maintenance will not only make it more efficient during operation, but it'll also extend the life of your door, ensuring that you only replace it when you absolutely have to.
Below are some key things to check for when you're performing routine maintenance. Although the processes listed below are for the everyday DIYer, it's important to leave any major issues in the hands of a company that handles garage door repair.
1. Safety
Your garage door should come equipped with an auto-reverse safety function that makes the garage door go up whenever it senses an object in its path. It does this through two different mechanisms — the photocell sensor that sits on the floor, and a mechanical one that reverses whenever it detects resistance. To test these, press the button to lower the garage door and walk in front of the path of the photocells. If it doesn't reverse, test the sensors and try again. Next, place a brick on the garage floor in the path of the door and lower it again. It should reverse once it detects the brick. If not, call a garage door repair company to fix the opener, or replace it completely if necessary.
2. Maintain
Your rollers, cables, tracks, and hardware need to be checked regularly to ensure they're in proper working order. While the hardware may just need to be tightened, the other three need to be checked for cracks or obstructions that may be hindering the efficiency. If you notice they're going bad, have a garage door repair company replace them, since the added stress on the opener may be causing it to work too hard and fail prematurely. Also, check the weatherstripping as well — the long piece of rubber on the bottom of your garage door. If it's cracked, it can be easily replaced by picking up a new set at your local hardware store.
3. Examine
Press the button on your garage door and listen. Do you notice any weird sounds? Does the garage door seem out of balance? Does it make a lot of grinding noises? Even if you have performed regular maintenance, it may be that there are certain issues that need to be addressed by a professional. If so, call and schedule an appointment.
For more tips, reach out to a garage door repair service in your area.
You push a button, and your garage door rolls up. You push another button, and it rolls back down. Many people take this technology for granted, until suddenly their garage door does not work. Then, you will need to jump into troubleshooting mode. Do you have a problem with the battery? Maybe the chain has come loose or perhaps you're missing a screw. In a situation like this, the more you know, the better off you'll be. Boost your garage door knowledge by reading some of the articles provided here. We address a bit of everything, from different door styles to opening mechanisms.