Your garage door is more than just a door—it’s the largest moving part of your home and a key part of your daily life. Whether you’re parking your car or entering your home, you use your garage door multiple times a day. But have you ever thought about what happens if it stops working?
Many of us forget how important it is to perform regular maintenance on our garage doors. Skipping this can lead to unexpected repair costs, safety hazards, and a shorter lifespan for your door. In this blog, we’ll dive into some easy maintenance tasks and tips to keep your garage door operating smoothly. Whether you’re handy or just starting out, these insights will help you properly maintain your garage door and keep it working well for years to come.
Why Regular Garage Door Maintenance Matters
Regular garage door maintenance is essential to keep your garage door in good shape. Without it, parts like springs, cables, and rollers can wear out or break. An unbalanced garage door puts extra stress on the garage door opener, which can cause it to fail. Imagine trying to leave for work, and the door doesn’t open—that’s a hassle nobody wants.
Safety is another big reason to maintain your garage door. Safety features on your garage door, like the auto-reverse function, help prevent accidents. If the door doesn’t reverse when it should, it could hurt someone or damage something in its path. By performing routine maintenance, you not only keep your garage door operating smoothly but also make sure the safety features work properly, protecting your family.
Checking Door Balance and Tracks
An unbalanced garage door can cause big problems over time. To check the balance, disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle—this lets you move the door by hand. Lift the door about halfway and let go. If the door stays in place, it’s balanced; if it moves up or down, the door isn’t balanced and might need adjustment.
Next, take a look at the garage door tracks on both sides. Make sure they’re clean and aligned properly. Misaligned tracks can keep the door from moving smoothly and might cause it to come off the track. Use a level to check the alignment and tighten any loose brackets with a socket wrench. Regularly checking these parts helps prevent problems and keeps your garage door operating smoothly.
Testing Safety Features
Making sure the safety features on your garage door are working is super important. Here are the top three ways to check them:
Auto-Reverse Mechanism: Place a solid object like a piece of wood in the path of the door. Close the door using the garage door opener. If the door doesn’t reverse when it touches the object, the feature might be faulty and needs fixing.
Photo-Electric Sensors: These sensors are on each side of the garage door, near the bottom. Close the door and wave something in front of the sensors. The door should reverse right away. If it doesn’t, clean the sensors and make sure they’re lined up correctly.
Manual Release Function: Disconnect the opener by pulling the release cord to see if you can move the door manually. This is important during power outages. If the door is hard to lift or doesn’t stay open, there might be issues with the garage door balance or springs.
Regularly testing these safety features helps you prevent the door from becoming dangerous and ensures your garage door operates safely.
How To Check Garage Door Tracks
Making sure the safety features on your garage door are working is super important. Here are the top three ways to check them:
Auto-Reverse Mechanism: Place a solid object like a piece of wood in the path of the door. Close the door using the garage door opener. If the door doesn’t reverse when it touches the object, the feature might be faulty and needs fixing.
Photo-Electric Sensors: These sensors are on each side of the garage door, near the bottom. Close the door and wave something in front of the sensors. The door should reverse right away. If it doesn’t, clean the sensors and make sure they’re lined up correctly.
Manual Release Function: Disconnect the opener by pulling the release cord to see if you can move the door manually. This is important during power outages. If the door is hard to lift or doesn’t stay open, there might be issues with the garage door balance or springs.
Regularly testing these safety features helps you prevent the door from becoming dangerous and ensures your garage door operates safely.
Checking If Your Garage Door Opens and Closes
To make sure your garage door opens and closes properly, disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle and lift the door by hand. The door should move smoothly without sticking. If it’s hard to lift or doesn’t stay open, this could mean problems with the springs or that the door is unbalanced. Also, listen for any strange noises when moving the door. Grinding or scraping sounds might mean you need to check your garage door parts.
How To Clean The Garage Door Springs
Cleaning the garage door springs is an easy way to extend the life of your garage door. First, disconnect the door manually to stay safe. Wipe down the springs with a cloth to remove dirt and grime. Be careful, as the springs are under high tension. After cleaning, apply a garage door lubricant to the springs, rollers, and hinges. This helps keep your garage door operating smoothly and reduces wear on the parts.
When to Seek Professional Garage Door Service
While regular garage door maintenance can fix many issues, some problems need a garage door professional. If you notice frayed cables, broken springs, or if the garage door makes loud or strange noises, it’s time to call a service technician. Trying to fix these parts yourself can be dangerous because of the high tension in the springs and cables.
Also, if you’ve done routine maintenance but the door still doesn’t work right, a garage door specialist can find and fix the problem. Regular preventative maintenance by a professional not only fixes current issues but can also help you extend the life of your garage door, saving you time and money.