4 Garage Door Maintenance Tips For Preventive Users
The average garage door operates two times a day. As it is used, the parts naturally wear and tear. Additionally, the more traffic a garage experiences, the sooner it will fail. Garage door system damages are not always evident, so garage door experts believe you should conduct regular maintenance. Homeowners should keep their garage doors in good condition by following some simple garage door maintenance tips.
To guide you, here are some garage door maintenance tips provided by Garage Door Repair Columbia MD.
1. Inspect Garage Door Springs and Cables
The springs and cables are perhaps the most important parts of your garage door. These components work together to open and close the door by counterbalancing its weight. Unfortunately, over time, they will wear out and break.
Some signs that your garage door’s springs or cables may be broken and need repair are:
- The door is very heavy and difficult to open
- The door opens or closes erratically
- The door makes loud noises when opening or closing
Call a professional garage door technician for repair or replacement if you see any of these signs. Do not attempt to fix these parts on your own as they are under tension and can cause injury they are not handled correctly.
2. Inspect the Tracks and Rollers
There are tracks installed on each side of your garage door. The tracks and rollers enable the garage door to move up and down smoothly.
Over time, they will accumulate dirt, grease, and debris that can cause them to break or become damaged. This is why it’s important to inspect them regularly and clean them when necessary.
To remove grease, grime, and dirt, use an old toothbrush with a clean cloth and spray disc brake cleaner.
3. Lubricate Hinges and Moving Parts
To keep your garage door functioning properly, you must regularly lubricate the hinges and other moving parts. Use silicon-based or white lithium grease for best results. Be sure to avoid using WD-40 as it can damage the plastic components of your garage door.
Furthermore, every six months it is recommended by experts to lubricate garage door rollers, springs, bearing plates, and hinges with lithium-based grease.
If you are unsure of how to go about lubricating the garage door, simply follow the steps below:
- Start by lubricating the rollers on both sides of the door.
- Work your way down and lubricate the hinges.
- Lubricate the track bracket bearings, if visible.
- Lubricate the winding cones if your garage door has a torsion spring system.
- Last, but not least – don’t forget to lubricate the garage door opener chain or screw.
4. Test Your Garage Door Sensors
It is a good idea to test your garage door sensors regularly to ensure they are working properly.
Most garage doors have safety sensors that activate the opener’s auto-reverse mechanism to stop the door from closing if there is an obstruction underneath.
In other words, it is a life-saving tool that can protect your car and your loved ones. In some places, legislation has even been passed to make having garage door sensors mandatory.
Here is a list of things you should regularly check to ensure they are functioning properly:
- Make sure the batteries are fresh
- Clean the sensors to ensure no dirt accumulates on the lens of the sensors.
- Check that the sensors are properly aligned
- Ensure that nothing is blocking the sensors
Conclusion
Following these simple tips, you can keep your garage door in good working condition and avoid costly repairs. Remember to inspect the door regularly and clean the tracks, rollers, sensors, and moving parts. Lubricate the door regularly and test the sensors to ensure they work properly. By taking good care of your garage door, you can extend its lifespan and keep it looking good for years to come.
To do this, simply place an object in the sensors’ path and see if the garage door reverses when it comes into contact with the object. If not, then you will need to call a professional for repairs.
