How to keep your garage door in proper working order

Easy tips to help you care for your garage door

You might not think about maintaining your garage door unless it stops working correctly. These maintenance and care tips from Garaga can help you have peace of mind about your door for its entire lifespan and not have to worry about major repairs.

Regular function check for your door

The first step for checking your door’s condition is to listen to it when it opens and closes. You may hear regular creaking, but you should not hear snaps or thumps. These sounds could indicate that a piece is broken or about to break.

After the “listening test”, you can do visual inspection of your door. Look at the torsion springs to make sure they are intact. Do the same with the extension springs, and make certain that they are not stretched out or hanging down. Then, move on to the rollers. You should look to see if any are worn down or loose. Finally, inspect the chain or belt of your door opener. It should not be hanging too low.

You can also do a simple test to check your spring system. This test will work if you have an electric garage door opener. Here are the steps: 1) disengage the trolley by activating the emergency cord. 2) Grab the lift handle on the door with one hand and try to open the door. The door should not feel heavy and you should be able to open it. If you cannot, then you may need to call a maintenance pro. Remember to re-engage the trolley.

Twice-per-year maintenance plan

You should do the following checks at least two times a year. We recommend doing this before the winter and then after the cold weather has ended for the year. By “maintenance,” we mean adding lubrication, tightening bolts, and checking safety features.

When tightening the bolts, make sure that all hinges are secured and the horizontal tracks are aligned correctly. Tighten the bolts holding the perforated angle irons. If you have a three-piece trolley on your door opener, pay special attention to the bolts there. Vibrations from the motor can cause these bolts to loosen.

How about lubrication? You should use two types of lubricant. For the metal components like the hinges, rollers and springs, use a petroleum-based lubricant. Then, use a silicon-based lubricant on parts made of PVC, like the exterior frame weatherstripping. Do not forget to apply this to the bottom of the door and to the stripping in between the door sections.

Audit the automatic reversal systems

Garage door safety depends on automatic reversal systems. If your opener was manufactured after 1993, it has two different systems. The mechanical system can be tested by placing a piece of wood or other hard material under the door’s path and then starting the close cycle. The door should immediately reverse when it touches the object placed its path. The photoelectric system relies on a beam of light that stretches between two sensors. When the beam is broken, the door should immediately open fully. You can start the close cycle and then simply wave your hand in front of one of the sensors. If it is functioning properly, the door should reverse as soon as the beam connection is broken.

Need professional help?

You can contact us at 508-962-9090 to make an appointment. Our garage door experts can provide you with a 28‑point tune‑up that covers everything from inspection to adjustment and lubrication.

Is it time to upgrade your door? We can give you a detailed quotation by email or come to your home to provide quotes and any information that will help make your decision easier. If you want to try to design your dream garage, you can head over to our Design Centre or get inspiration from our image gallery.

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