Keeping your garage door in great condition is important, but it can be stressful and difficult if you don't know the right steps.
In this blog post, we're going to go over what you need to look out for when maintaining your garage door—and why these checks are so important. Then, if something seems off with yours, don't hesitate to call in an expert who can get it up and running smoothly again (and hopefully save yourself some money down the road).
Lubricate the rollers, bearings, and pulleys
There are many types of lubricants, but WD-40 is common for this job. You can apply it by using a spray bottle or rag. However, ensure you're not spraying it directly onto your garage door opener's motor or electrical components, as you could damage them.
You may also want to clean out any debris collected around the edges of your garage door track with an old toothbrush or similar tool, as this will help reduce friction between the tracks and wear over time.
Manually open/close your door to check balance
One of the most important things to do when inspecting your garage door is manually opening and closing it to check for proper balance. This means that if you can open and close your door by hand, it's balanced correctly (or at least as nearly correct as possible). However, if there is too much weight on one side of your door, or if there's some other problem with its operation, this will be apparent when you try to operate it manually.
If you find that opening/closing is difficult or impossible due to improper balance, it's time for repairs. Unbalanced doors can cause serious damage if not repaired soon enough: They may cause their runners or rollers—the devices that allow them to move up and down—to become bent out of shape over time; they might even pop off their tracks entirely before too long!
Tighten up loose screws and bolts
Now that you have a good idea of how to check your garage door for signs of problems let’s discuss what to do if something is loose. First, check each one of the hinges to see if any screws are loose or missing. Even though these screws may be holding up your garage door, they could still be a safety hazard because they can come off anytime and cause injury.
Second, check for spring damage with a spring tester tool (available at hardware stores). Springs that look damaged should be replaced immediately by a professional so as not to pose any danger when they break while being used in an open position.
Third, make sure all bolts and nuts are tight enough so they won't loosen over time due to vibrations caused by the daily use of your garage door opener motor/crank handle.
Check if the weatherstrip is aligned properly
If you haven't done so recently, it's time to check if the weather stripping around your garage door is in good condition. Weatherstripping is an important part of your garage door, as it helps prevent air and water infiltration. However, if the weatherstripping isn't properly aligned or secured, it can come loose and allow moisture into your home.
The next time you open up your garage door for regular maintenance and inspection, look closely at the weatherstrip along the bottom edge of both sides of the door (if there are two sides). Check that this strip is firmly attached at all four corners; if any screws are missing or stripped out, they'll need to be replaced with new ones. Also, check for cracks or tears in this material; those areas should be patched or replaced as needed before they become worse over time.
Inspect hinges and safety cables
Inspect hinges and safety cables. Safety cables are the second most important part of your garage door. They keep it from falling down when you open it, and they should always be in good condition (not frayed). If they are damaged, they need to be replaced immediately as a safety precaution.
To check whether your door has frayed or otherwise damaged cables, lift one end of the cable up with your fingers while other hand holds against the top corner of the door frame; then push against the bottom corner with the other hand until you feel resistance from spring tension holding back door from moving downward. If there is no resistance and the cable hangs loosely without bouncing back up after releasing tension from the spring, it needs immediate replacement..
It's not just a door... it's an investment!
Think of regular maintenance as an investment in your garage door. By performing routine checks and repairs, you can help prevent costly issues down the line.
Regular maintenance will also help you avoid injury or property damage, which we all want to avoid. If you haven’t had your garage door checked recently, now is a good time to take care of it.
Peter and Sons Construction is your local garage door repair expert. We specialize in installation, replacement, and repair of garage doors & openers in the greater Chicago area. Call us today at +1 (773) 851-3056 or email us at [email protected] for more information about our products or services!
