4 Preventive Garage-Door Tips to Remember
Engineered to open and close multiple times each day under a wide variety of conditions, your garage door is one of the hardest-working parts of your home. The following are a few simple yet highly effective tips to remember when it comes to caring for your garage door.
Keep Your Eyes and Ears Out for Any Problems
Whenever a garage door's operation turns problematic, there are plenty of visual and audible cues to indicate a problem. For instance, pay close attention to the garage door's movement as it opens and closes. If the door jerks in certain spots, you'll want to check the rollers and tracks for signs of damage or debris.
Also pay close attention to how the garage door sounds as it moves. If it makes scraping or grinding noises, check for any signs of damage or obstructions that could impact the door's movement. You'll also want to make sure the springs and cables on each side are raising and lowering the door in sync.
Occasionally Check the Garage Door's Balance
If your garage-door opener has a hard time opening or closing your garage door, then it may be time to check its balance.
- With the garage door closed, disengage the garage-door opener from the actual door by pulling the emergency-release handle located overhead.
- Stand in the middle of the garage door and carefully lift it open until the door reaches its halfway point.
- With the door open halfway, let go of the door and observe its movement. If the door continues to fly open or drops shut, you'll need to have an experienced technician readjust the door's balance.
Check and Tighten the Brackets and Bolts
Over time, vibrations caused by the garage door's constant movement can loosen up bolts, screws, and other fasteners that hold the brackets and other hardware in place. As you inspect your garage door, you'll want to check every fastener and make sure it's not backing itself out of position. When necessary, use your screwdriver or socket wrench to tighten up each fastener. Tightening the fasteners can also help eliminate rattling and other noises caused by loose, vibrating garage-door hardware.
Don't Forget About Lubrication
Lubrication is one of the most important aspects of caring for your garage door. Without it, the various components that make up your garage door may wear down prematurely, making it difficult to operate your garage door properly. Garage-door lubrication should be done on an annual basis as part of your routine garage-door maintenance regimen.
Use white lithium grease or a silicone-based spray lubricant to coat the springs, rollers, and hinges. If necessary, you should also lubricate the garage-door opener's chain or screw drive with the appropriate lubricant. Refrain from lubricating the track, as this will only draw debris into the track.
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