Maintaining Your Garage Door

295 days ago

Garage door parts and openers will last a lot longer, if you know how to maintain them. Ideally, you should have it inspected at least once a year. You never know when there might be a broken cable, spring, roller, or any other piece of hardware.

Here are some tips for keeping your garage door well-maintained:

Make sure that moving parts stay lubricated

The rollers, hinges, and springs,are the most important parts of a garage door. If they don’t do their job, the door won’t open, and if it is open, it might come crashing down. Spray the moving parts with good lubricant oil, at least four times a year. You don’t want to use thick grease, since it will only attract dust and dirt.

Make sure that the cables are in good working condition

Worn or frayed steel cables can cause a lot of problems. Soyou should call a garage company to have them replaced. Without proper knowledge, you shouldn’t attempt to replace them yourself.

Look for signs of wear and check for loose bolts

Look for signs of wear and tear on every part of the door. If you consider yourself to be good at DIY projects, and have the right hand tools, you can take care of the minor repairs yourself. However, for the more complex parts, such as springs, you should hire a professional. If hardware is improperly handled, it can cause severe injury.

Loose bolts make it difficult for the garage door track to move. If one bolt is loose, the track could even fall on your car! Check the bolts, at least once a month, to make sure they are tight and secure.

Check the spring system for problemsand test the balancing

Rust can cause the spring system to break. Extension spring systems, in particular, can be very dangerous if not properly maintained. These types of springs are common in older garages.

When inspecting the spring system, make sure that a good, strong cable runs all the way through the spring, and that it is secured on both ends. Torsion spring systems are commonly found in newer garages. These systems should be sprayed with a lubricant, such as WD-40, four times a year.

When the door is closed, you can pull the emergency release to test the balance. Try lifting the door about a metre, then let go. If it stays open, then the balance is okay. If it falls to the ground, then the springs should be checked, as they need tension. On the other hand, if it flies open too easily when you lift it, then tension should be taken off the springs.

Keep the floor beneath the garage door clean

The area under the door should be free of obstructions, such as dirt, cobwebs, and leaves. These all prevent the door from creating a solid seal with the floor. After awhile, a lack of a solid seal will affect the weight distribution and alignment of your garage door.

Since garage doors can be dangerous, it’s crucial that you follow these steps on a regular basis.