A regular garage door tune-up is essential to ensure that your garage door continues to operate properly and safely. Garage doors have multiple moving components, all of which may require adjustment, lubrication, and/or tightening from time to time.
Some people may find it intimidating to handle the maintenance of their garage doors alone. However, you don’t need to be a garage door repair technician to perform the essential maintenance tasks. Here are some steps that you can take to keep your garage door running smoothly.
Conduct a Visual Inspection
Start your garage door maintenance by giving it a thorough visual inspection. Look for any signs of wear and tear on all the main components, including the tracks and rollers. If you notice any loose or damaged hardware, rust, and cracked or broken panels, that’s a good sign that you may need new parts.
Pay special attention to the springs and cables that help balance your garage door. Anything askew in these critical components may lead to major damage in the long run if you leave them unattended. Be sure to inspect and maintain them regularly, so the entire mechanism works correctly.
Another great way to conduct a visual inspection is to run your garage door normally. If you notice that it’s gotten slower over the years, or if you hear any unusual sounds, then something may be wrong with its inner machinations. That’s when you take a closer look at the specific parts of your system to see what might be the problem.
Lubricate Metal Parts
Ideally, your garage door maintenance routine should include lubrication at least once a year. However, you can lubricate your garage door as necessary, especially if it’s noisy when you open or close it. Simply spray or wipe down the springs or bearing plates with grease to lubricate them.
If it stays noisy even after recent lubrication, something might be wrong with the moving metal parts. You may need to replace them with new parts. Every garage door is unique and needs specific kinds of parts. Consider getting a professional garage door tune-up specialist to inspect your system before taking any action.
Tighten Loose Parts
Constantly using your garage door can loosen some moving parts — particularly hardware like nuts, bolts, and screws. When these small parts are loose, you might hear popping and rattling noises. In addition, you risk experiencing expensive breakdowns when they come totally undone.
Be sure to tighten them when necessary, so your garage door does not fall apart. However, your garage door’s hardware is delicate and can be dangerous to handle yourself if the damage is too much. While you should be able to handle simple tightening jobs, you may need a professional when the torsion springs need changing or replacement.
Test Safety Features
Modern garage doors have safety features that you must test regularly to ensure they work correctly. In particular, they have sensors that detect when you are opening the garage door. These sensors can prevent it from closing if there is an obstruction. Test these sensors by placing an object where the garage door meets the ground, preferably a pack of toilet paper rolls or a brick.
The door should reverse if it senses an object in the way. Otherwise, you might want to wipe the sensor to ensure it senses obstructions properly. You may need a new unit if it still doesn’t work correctly.
Clean the Tracks
Dust and debris can build up in your garage door’s tracks, impeding its movement. If your garage door opens slowly or stops unexpectedly during operation, clean the tracks thoroughly. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any gunk or wipe them down with a damp cloth. Be sure to dry any parts you went through with a damp cloth to avoid any rust.
Cleaning the tracks this way can also help you see if they are leveled and straight. If anything is bent, your garage door won’t run smoothly, and you’ll need to fix it right away. Leaving these parts as-is may affect other components and cost more in the long run.
Final Words: Get a Garage Door Maintenance Expert for Professional Input
Regular garage door tune-ups and maintenance should be part of your home maintenance routine. You can do simple checks by keeping a close eye and ear out for anything about your garage door that might be out of the ordinary.
If you hear any noise, there may be loose parts that need tightening. If it operates slowly, there might be obstructions on the tracks. If you’re unsure, consider calling garage door tune-up experts to assess your circumstances and determine the best steps to get your door running smoothly.