Garage door maintenance is a crucial part of your seasonal inspectional routine that should be done twice a year. Unfortunately, that is frequently ignored. Neglected garage doors can put a lot of strain on an automatic garage door opener, so spending an hour or two each year between the early spring and late fall will save you money on repairs. Here’s a simple 7-step process you can follow.
1.Keep an Eye on and Listen to Your Door
Jerky motions and grating, scraping sounds are common symptoms of garage door and automatic opener issues. Make sure that the springs, pulleys, and cables on both sides of the system are symmetrical. Moreover, make sure that the tracks on both sides of the door are clean and free of debris and rust. Use a level to ensure that the tracks are plumb (exactly vertical) throughout their vertical sections.
2.Tighten the Hardware
The action and vibration of a standard garage door moving up and down hundreds of times per year can loosen the door and track components. Examine the brackets that secure the door tracks to the wall and ceiling, as well as the bolts that secure the garage door opener unit to the studs. Tighten any loosened bolts using a socket wrench.
3.Make Sure That the Cables and Pulleys Are in Good Shape
Examine the lift cables and pulleys that connect the door’s bottom roller brackets. These join the springs to the door, allowing the door to be safely lifted and lowered. The springs on garage doors might be one of two types. First are the extension springs that run across each door track’s horizontal (overhead) part. Secondly, above the door opening are the torsion springs attached to a metal rod. Wires in both types lift the door.
Homeowners must not touch cables and springs because they are high-tension items that might be dangerous. Call in a service person if you notice any damaged strands or other evidence of wear and tear on the wires.
4.Lubricate Moving Parts
Maintaining proper lubrication of the rollers and other moving parts will reduce stress on the rollers and door openers, extending their lives. Spray a high-quality lubricant to the rollers and hinges twice a year, including white lithium grease, and wipe off any excess. If any rollers or hinges appear to be stuck, use a penetrating solution like WD-40 to spray them, then wipe them clean and grease them.
If the torsion spring is rusted, apply a little oil to it. Spray white lithium grease on the opener’s chain or screw if it has a metal chain or screw. Never use a lubricant on a belt-drive opener.
5.Check the Balance of the Door
The garage door opener may have to work harder if your garage door isn’t properly balanced, and it will not last as long. Pull the release handle on the automatic opener to test this, then manually raise the door halfway open. Without your assistance, the door must remain in place. If it doesn’t, either the door isn’t balanced properly, or the springs are old and damaged.
6.Try out the Auto-Reverse Feature
If an object is detected in the route of the door or the door impacts an object while closing, an auto-reverse mechanism will stop and reverse the door’s direction. It is a common feature of automatic garage door openers. A pressure sensor or a pair of photocells on each side of the door activates this system.
Place a scrap 2×4 board flat on the ground in the door’s route to test the pressure sensor. When the door reaches the board, this should reverse course and return to the top. Next, start your door down in a closing direction, then simply slide your leg in the door’s passage to test the photoelectric system with eye sensors on each side.
7.Repair or Replace Weatherstripping
The rubber weatherstripping on the bottom of the door keeps the cold out as well as water, dust, and debris. Some weatherstripping uses a flange that slips into a notch in the bottom of the door to fit into it. Wooden garage door weatherstripping is often nailed in place. Check the quality of the weatherstripping on the sides of your door and reconnect any loose patches or change the original length of stripping if it is significantly worn or damaged.
Those are simple garage door maintenance procedures you can do yourself. However, make sure to call an expert should there be a major alteration needed. Also, don’t forget to clean and paint your door. Look for rust areas on steel doors, which should be sanded, primed, and painted. An all-purpose cleaner can be used to clean fibreglass doors. Pay special care to wood doors, as they are prone to warping and water damage. Remove any chipped or flaking paint before sanding and repainting. If your wooden door doesn’t have weather stripping around the bottom edge, make sure it’s well-sealed or painted before going for it.
This article was written by Melissa Hansen, a seasoned writer with contributions to niche BC outlets like Epic Firms, Forever After, and Bridgewell Group. When she is not crafting insightful content, Melissa enjoys her time with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and an inspiring book in the other.
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