Keeping up with garage door maintenance is essential if you want to ensure your garage system operates without any major problems. This can help you prevent expensive repairs or having to replace your door prematurely. If you’re unsure where to start, consider these 4 helpful garage door maintenance tips!
#1. Inspect All Parts of Your Garage Doors
The first step in overhead door maintenance is to thoroughly examine the condition of all parts. Look at the inside and outside of the door, then check out the cables, garage door opener, and weather-stripping features. Some essential mechanical areas to review include the following:
Springs
Your garage door springs experience general wear and tear over time and eventually need replacing. You can check the state of your tension springs and see if they’re in optimal shape. Look for rust or visible damage, as well as gaps in between the spring coils. It’s crucial to always keep in mind that these components can be dangerous, so handle them with extreme caution. If you require any type of service for your springs, contact the professionals here at Integrity Overhead Door!
Cables
Your garage door openers rely on strong pulleys and cables, but there’s a risk these features may fray or break, or simply become worn out over time. You should immediately address any stability concerns or breakages by contacting our garage door technicians. We are prepared to safely handle any garage door cable repairs or replacements.
Screws, Nuts, Bolts, and Other Hardware
Tightening loose screws and bolts is an easy way to maintain your garage door yourself. However, steer clear from any red hardware pieces, as these support the structural integrity of the system and could cause harm if you mess with them.
#2. Lubricate the Moving Parts
The many metal parts of your garage door and opener system are subject to rusting and wear. Lubricating them with a silicone-based lubricant specific to garage doors can make your system last longer. Stay away from water-based lubricants like WD-40. Lubrication is a simple task to complete a few times a year to keep your garage door working adequately without calling in for professionals.
Keep Your Ears Peeled for Unusual Noises
If you start to hear loud screeching or grinding noises, it’s a sign that the parts of your garage door are not well-lubricated. As the parts rub agains teach other, they will start to wear down more quickly which can lead to a more costly garage door repair as parts fail.
#3. Change Out Your Weather-Stripping
Weather-stripping is an essential piece of your garage door that protects your garage from extreme weather, wear, and incoming animals. It also helps you cut down on energy costs, improve your home’s energy efficiency, and prevent water damage. That said, your weather-stripping will naturally wear down over time.
Replacing the weather-stripping can make a big impact. Once you remove the old stripping, you can cut the new rubber to the appropriate size, then carefully install it around the door’s perimeter. It’s as easy as that!
#4. Test Garage Door Safety and Effectiveness
Above all, you want to know that your garage door operates safely and effectively. A faulty or unsafe garage door could suddenly stop working and land on a person, pet, or belongings, causing serious injuries. Here are some essential features you need to test:
Auto-Reverse
Auto-reverse features stop garage doors from closing if objects or people are in the way. You can place a piece of wood or a box in the pathway of the sensor to see if it stops or collides. If it hits the obstacle, you should either adjust your sensor system or consult the team here at Integrity Overhead Door.
Balance
Test the balance of your garage door by first disconnecting your opener. Then, once you operate in manual mode, you can lift the door and release it at the halfway mark. If the door is unbalanced in any way, you can reach out to us to fix it.
Photo-Eye Sensors
Another key aspect of garage door maintenance is checking the two photo-eye sensors that determine if something is in the door’s path. If your doors aren’t recognizing objects in the way, try cleaning any dust or cobwebs off the sensors. If this doesn’t work, you may need our professionals to inspect them for you.
Integrity Overhead Doors Offers Garage Door Services in Amarillo, Texas
Did you follow each step and your door still isn’t working like it should? We can help! Contact the team at Integrity Overhead Door today! We serve clients in and around Amarillo, Texas with the best garage door repair and installation services and offer a variety of high-quality garage door products. You can request a quote online or call us at (806) 418-5237.