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February 4, 2020

Preventive Maintenance Tips for Garage Doors

Preventive Maintenance Tips for Garage Doors

I know all too well that garage doors can fail, and like anything else, it’s never at a good time, so the tips below will help you get ahead of any unforeseen issues.

  • Did you lose power? Did you know there is a rip cord on your garage door for that exact scenario? Simply pull the red handle and that releases the trolley and you are able to then lift the door. This is only for power failure, not for a broken spring. NEVER PULL THE RED HANDLE UNLESS THE DOOR IS IN THE DOWN POSITION.  Once power is restored you should be able to use your remote and the trolley will reengage.
  • One of the easiest things to do is to just listen and look at the garage door as it functions, do you hear any grinding or squeaking noises? Does the door go up and down smoothly, or do you see  hesitating or jerking? Is the door level on both sides?
  • Make sure all of your hardware is in good working order, are the bolts and hinges tight? What about the rollers? They may need to be lubricated. Make sure to do this at least 2 times a year.
  • Check the rubber seal at the bottom of the garage door, is it cracked or completely flat? If the answer is yes, no problem, they sell the seal at local hardware stores and it is very simple to install.
  • One of the more common parts on a garage door that breaks is the spring. Think about the tension on that spring and how many times it opens and closes in a year. The spring helps lift the door and if you have ever had one break you know how heavy that door really is. Never try and tinker with the spring or cables, they could do harm to a person. If you feel the spring is failing please contact a professional and never try to lift the garage door if the spring is broken.
  • Do your sensors line up properly? On each side of the garage near the ground attached to the track are sensors that sense when a person or object is in the path of the garage door, these sensors help keep the door from coming down on something or someone. Periodically check your sensors and make sure they are secured and each one has a green or orange (sometimes yellow) light on them, if each one is lit that means they are communicating. As a test just waive your hand in front of one of the sensors and you will see the light go off, that means they are working and can sense when something is in the path of the garage door.

If you have any doubt what or where any of the items listed above are it’s best you contact a professional to do annual preventive maintenance on your garage door.