Your garage door is the largest moving part in your house, and it is used several times a day, at all hours of the day and in all seasons. It’s critical to perform regular preventive care and maintenance on your garage door if you want it to keep running well for decades. Winter weather takes the toll on garage doors the most, so we’ve developed a list of 10 garage door maintenance tips for keeping an eye on telltale signs of needed garage door winter maintenance and preparing your garage door for the elements.
Balancing the Garage Door
The garage door opener will have to work harder if your garage door is not properly balanced, and it will not last as long. Manually slide the door halfway up after disconnecting the opener by pushing the release handle (typically a red wire). The counterweight system (springs) is out of balance if it doesn’t stay put. It’s best to leave garage door spring adjustment to the pros.
Ensure that the moving parts are well lubricated.
Maintaining the lubrication of your garage door parts can ensure years of trouble-free operation – and it only takes 10 minutes a year! Coat all of the working parts, including the overhead springs, with a spray lubricant available from your garage door specialist.
Make sure the tracks are clear
Make sure the tracks on both sides of the door are clear of debris, and verify the plumb with a level if you’re so inclined. A skilled garage door technician should make any major adjustments to the tracks.
Maintain Your Garage Door
Don’t forget to look at the door itself as well. Water damage and warp, as well as chipped and peeling paint, must all be checked on wood doors. Rust stains on steel doors should be sanded, primed, and painted. Wash your garage door using a moderate all-purpose cleanser on a regular basis, just like you would your automobile.
Auto-Reverse Safety Features: Put them to the Test
Mechanical and photocell mechanisms are the two types of mechanisms.
Put a piece of wood or a block in the way of the door to test the mechanical feature. When the door that is coming down meets that object, it should reverse direction and go back up.
To test the photoelectric system with beams on both sides, do the following: Close the door and just place your leg in the way of the door. Your door should reverse.
If your garage door opener is more than 20 years old, it may be missing essential safety safeguards, and it’s time to replace it.
Look and pay attention.
The most crucial preventive measure you can take is to keep an eye on your garage door whenever you use it. Is it flowing smoothly or choppy at times? Is it silent or does it produce grinding or scraping noises as it works? Is the system (springs, pulleys, and cables) symmetrical on both sides?
Inspect and replace the rollers if necessary.
Rollers, whether steel or nylon, should be inspected twice a year and replaced every seven years or so, or more frequently if your garage door is used frequently. Rollers that are worn, chipped, or cracked should be changed as soon as possible. This is accomplished by removing and replacing any roller brackets that are not directly connected to the cable system.
Ensure that the hardware is in good working order.
The average garage door is opened and closed over a thousand times per year. There’s a lot of movement and vibration there, which can cause the hardware to loosen. With a socket wrench, inspect and tighten all roller brackets and bolts.
Examine the Cables
The high-tension cables that lift your door have enough force to injure and kill you if you tamper with them. However, you can inspect their condition to determine whether it’s time to call a professional. Near the bottom roller bracket, look for broken strands and damage.
Weather stripping should be replaced.
If the weather seal strip on the bottom of your door is brittle or damaged, repair it as soon as possible to prepare your garage door for winter. Depending on the door’s manufacturer, there are a variety of bottom rubber styles. To locate the correct sort of rubber for your garage door, contact a local garage door technician.
Follow these garage door maintenance tips to ensure a warm and hassle free winter.
Belleli Doors, The GTA Door Experts
Keep in mind that your garage door accounts for around one-third of the outside of your home, so keep it clean and fresh. Schedule your garage door winter maintenance with Belleli Doors today. Call 647-870-7778 for a complimentary consultation to make sure your garage door for the winter is ready.