We often pay little, if any, attention to our garage doors and opener systems until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, a broken spring or a garage door that simply won’t open or close becomes an emergency, and possibly a bigger expense for repairs. Regular maintenance can help avoid this, but even if you haven’t hired a professional to give your garage door and opener a tune-up, there are things you can do to avoid an emergency and keep it in the best condition possible.
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Don’t ignore loud or scraping and grating operation. Your garage door should be relatively quiet, and movement should be smooth. If it’s not, call a professional to check and adjust pulleys and cables.
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Inspect the hardware and track system after the winter season. Salt and debris from winter weather can collect in the tracks, and joints and brackets can become loose from temperature changes and general use. A clean out and some tightening can save you a lot of trouble later.
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Review the overall condition and appearance of your garage door and weatherstripping. Rust and blistering paint should be removed and primed to keep corrosion and warping at bay. Dried, cracked or missing weatherstripping should be replaced, with special attention given to the bottom edge to help prevent your garage door from freezing to the ground.
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Check pulleys, cables and rollers twice a year for chips, breaks and wear. By replacing these before they break, you can avoid an emergency call. Call a professional for these services, as these parts are under extreme tension and can cause injury if not properly handled.
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While you are checking the pulleys and cables, you should also check the door balance, since an improperly balanced door will create extra wear on the door opener and burn out the motor prematurely. Test the balance by disengaging the release handle so your door can be opened manually. Open the door half way and see if it stays in place, being ready to catch it if it drops suddenly. If the door drops, the spring tension is too weak, but if the door rises, it is too strong. A professional can adjust the spring tension so the door is balanced.
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Keeping the moving parts of your garage door lubricated will improve operation and lengthen the life of the system, but be sure you use a silicon-based product that is designed to hold up to the work load and extreme temperatures it will experience.
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Test the auto-reverse on your garage door twice a year. Most garage doors feature a photo eye system that reverses the door’s movement if the beam is broken. This is easy to test by starting your garage door and running your hand or foot through the path of the beam. If your older garage door opener does not have this safety feature you should consider replacing it.
If you believe your garage door or opener system is in need of some attention, contact us to schedule a maintenance check. Our professionals thoroughly inspect all parts and functions of your garage door and opener to ascertain safe operation and can instruct you on what you can do to keep your garage door running at its best.