Your garage door is an important part of your home. Many homeowners use garage doors as the main entrance and exit point to their homes. They can be opened and closed nearly 1,000 times per year.
Because of how important it is to your everyday life, your garage door needs some attention. You can make sure it lasts for many years by maintaining it. Overhead Raleigh Door has put together this guide to ensure your garage door looks great throughout the year.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE TIPS – KEEPING YOUR GARAGE DOOR IN GOOD CONDITION YEAR ROUND
Is there a garage door repair season? Some seasons require special attention and precautions. However, keeping your garage door in good condition all year is important. Every season brings unexpected weather and changing temperatures that your garage door needs to withstand. You can maintain your garage door for many years by performing a few simple tasks throughout each year.
Many of these tips can be done by you. Overhead Raleigh Door is just a phone call away for those tasks that you aren’t comfortable with. These preventive steps can help keep your garage door in good condition and avoid future problems.
1. WATCH AND LISTEN TO YOUR GARAGE DOOR FOR A WHILE
Your garage door may become less reliable over time. It is a good idea to check your garage door every once in a while. To keep an eye on the condition of your garage door, you should be able to listen and watch what it does when you open and close it. Regular observation will help you identify when the door is not working properly.
Pay attention to the following clues that could indicate a damaged garage door or opener.
- Slow to open/close
- Jerky, uneven movements
- Unusual loudness
- Grinding, scraping, and grinding sounds
You should look at the whole system if you see any of these signs. Make sure to note any unusualities and ensure everything is in order. It’s worth taking a moment to listen to your garage door to identify any issues before they worsen.
2. KEEP THE TRACKS CLEAN & CLEAR OF DUST
Garage doors can open and close by using the tracks to guide the wheels. To ensure that nothing is blocking the wheels’ path, it’s a good idea to inspect the condition of the tracks before each season. A small obstruction could cause damage to the wheels or cause the garage door to go out of alignment.
Grab a ladder and a stepping stool to look at the tracks. Then, work your way to the bottom. Use a shop towel to remove any debris. You can also check for any rust with a shop rag. This could indicate that it is time to hire a professional to put in new tracks.
This time can be used to verify the level of your garage door tracks. Use a long-handled level to ensure that each side is equal. Both the horizontal and vertical sections of the tracks should be checked. Garage door openers not in alignment can cause stress and increase the likelihood of them breaking down. If you find that your tracks need to be in alignment, contact a professional.
3. CHECK OUT YOUR GARAGE DOOR TO SEE IF YOU HAVE LOOSE HARDWARE
You will find nuts, bolts, and screws all over your garage door components. You can put your garage door at risk if you leave loose hardware. You can check the hardware of your garage door with a couple of screwdrivers or an adjustable wrench. The following locations should be checked for hardware:
- The brackets that hold the garage door tracks in their place
- The garage door opener is secured by the fasteners
- Your garage door’s hinged brackets are located between the panels.
You could risk damaging your opener and garage door opener by loose hardware. This will allow your garage door to move freely.
4. INSPECT THE GARAGE DOOR ROLLERS, AND REPLACE DAMAGED ONES
Rollers are attached to the sides of your garage door. They move along the tracks during opening and closing. Garage doors that move evenly and quietly are made of good rollers. Garage door rollers may be damaged if your garage door is louder or moving more frequently. It is common for rollers to become loose or chipped over time. Make sure you replace damaged rollers as soon as possible.
It is easy to replace rollers. Simply remove the bracket from your garage door and install a new one. You can buy new rollers at your local hardware shop or specialty garage door repair shop. It is best to avoid replacing the rollers at the bottom of your garage doors as they are connected to the cables in your garage door pulley system. Disconnecting these cables can pose a danger as they are subject to high tension. These rollers should be replaced by a professional.
5. INSPECT YOUR GARAGE DOOR’S CABLES AND PULLEYS
The pulley system that opens and closes your garage door is crucial. Your garage door opener may have to work harder if this complex system is damaged or out of balance. Your chances of having to repair your system are increased if it is experiencing more problems. It is important to identify these problems early to reduce repair costs.
Examine the cables attached to the garage doors’ bottom roller brackets for fraying or damage. Check your head for damaged springs or loose cables. This could indicate a problem in your pulley system. You should contact a professional if you see any of these signs. The pulley system of your garage door is in extreme tension. It is dangerous to attempt to repair it yourself.
6. KEEP THE MOVING PARTS OF YOUR GARAGE DOOR CLEAN AND LUBRICATED
Garage door opener and opener have intricate moving parts that work together to operate. To keep your garage door and opener working well, it is important to clean these moving parts throughout the year. Use lithium grease to grease your garage door tracks and roller brackets. This will decrease stress on your opener and increase its lifespan. Spray WD-40 on any rollers that seem stuck.
Lubricate all moving parts of the garage door’s pulley mechanism. To prevent WD-40 from dripping onto your garage floor, spray the springs with WD-40. To reduce stress on your garage door opener’s chain drive, spray the chain with lithium grease. This will ensure your opener runs smoothly for many years.
7. CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR GARAGE DOOR IS BALANCED
This is a simple maintenance test that you can do any time of the year, but it is especially useful in warmer weather. Check your garage door balance. An unbalanced garage door can cause your opener’s to work harder than necessary. This could lead to an unplanned and preventable failure.
Pull the red safety cord to disconnect your garage door opener. This will let you manually open and close the garage door. Let go of the door at the halfway point. Unbalanced garage doors will move down or upwards depending on their balancing issues. A balanced garage door will remain in its original position. If your garage door is not balanced, call a professional to adjust the high-tension springs or cables.
8. MAKE SURE THAT THE DOOR’S AUTOREVERSE FEATURES CONTAIN FUNCTIONS
Garage doors have at least one automatic-reverse safety feature. However, many garage doors also include a second. If something is in the garage door’s way, the pressure sensor will reverse its direction. Modern garage doors must include this safety feature. Two photoelectric sensors are mounted near the floor and detect movement to trigger a reversal.
Place a small object, such as a piece of wood measuring two by four in length, along the path of the garage doors to test the pressure sensor. It should reverse its direction as soon as it touches the two-by-four. Call a professional if the garage door attempts to push through the object.
Locate the small cameras to test the photoelectric sensor locations on each side of your garage door. To close your garage door, stand with a long object at your side and press the button. To trigger the automatic reversal, wave a broom or another object in the direction of the lenses. If the garage door is still closing, you may need to wipe the lenses with a soft cloth. If the problem persists, you should contact a professional.
9. CHECK OUT YOUR GARAGE DOOR’S WEATHERSTRIPPING
Weatherstripping is important for all four seasons. It prevents rain, snow, water, and air from entering your garage or your home’s living spaces. It is the last barrier against the elements and can withstand quite a lot. Weatherstripping that is damaged should be repaired or replaced immediately, when weatherstripping can be removed by pulling it out of its grooves, disconnecting weatherstripping from a wooden garage door, and taking out the nails.
Many garage doors include weatherstripping on the bottom, but some have it on the sides. To access the weatherstripping, raise your garage door to a suitable height. Use a mild all-purpose cleaner and a soft rag to clean it. You should replace the weatherstripping if you find cracks, holes, or missing sections. It should be easy to find at your local hardware or garage repair shop.
10. CALL A TRUSTED PROFESSIONAL TO INSPECT YOUR GARAGE DOOR ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
It is important to be involved in the maintenance and health of your garage door. You’ll notice signs of a garage door breaking down if you check it regularly. The great idea is to schedule yearly maintenance with a professional Garage Door Technician. They will be able to spot any issues that you might have missed. To further reduce the chance of your door breaking, you should add a garage door inspection every year to your routine.
CHOOSE Overhead Raleigh Door – SEASONAL GARAGE DOOR MAINTENANCE IN RALEIGH NC
Overhead Raleigh Door has been serving the Raleigh NC areas. We have built strong relationships with the communities we serve and provide unmatched garage door service to homeowners in both Michigan and Ohio. We want to make sure you are happy with your garage door and provide the best service possible when you have it.
To learn more about our garage door maintenance services Raleigh NC and how we can assist you with your door, click here. You can request a garage-door service online simply by filling in our form.
