You probably use your garage door several times daily, but until there is a broken garage door or anything goes wrong, most people never give it a second thought. You become aware of a squeaking sound or a door that won’t close, but by the time you do, it might be too late to avoid a service call.
Also, you can maintain your garage door in top condition in a number of ways with little effort. By putting these top upkeep and efficiency tips to use, you can extend the life of your door and keep your mind at ease.
Tighten Loose Nuts and Bolts to Avoid Broken Garage Door
By the end of the year, three times each day of opening and closing your garage door results in more than 1,000 cycles. The screws holding the bolts will eventually go loose from all the movement and vibration, and the roller brackets will need to be tightened.
Two tools—a socket wrench and a screwdriver—are all you need to do the task yourself. Simple maintenance like tightening nuts and bolts could prevent significant problems later on.
Please be aware that you should never handle any red-painted screws or bolts or those that are affixed to the bottom roller fixture. Your door and personal safety are at risk if you adjust these components.
Check The Balance of The Garage Door
The garage door opener will work harder and last less time if your garage door is not properly balanced. Manually raise the door about halfway up after disconnecting the opener by pushing the release handle (often a red wire). The counterweight system (springs) is out of balance if it moves despite being counterbalanced. It’s best to leave garage door spring adjustment to the experts.
Replace Weatherstripping
Cold, water and debris are kept out by the rubber weatherstripping. It has a flange that slips into a groove in the bottom of the garage door and is available at big-box home improvement stores and hardware stores.
For wood garage doors, the weatherstripping is often stapled in place. Replace this bottom weatherstripping if it is ripped. If the weatherstripping on the edges of the door is loose, reattach it. If it is severely worn out or broken, replace it.
Make The Door Track Clean
It’s crucial to inspect for damage or degeneration on door tracks because they degrade with time. Search for any missing or loose screws or bolts. If required, tighten them, but be careful not to overtighten them as this could do more harm than good.
Next, clear the area around the tracks of dirt, leaves, spiderwebs, and other detritus. Our experts advise using sealed rollers in place of lubricating your track, which will minimize grease buildup and eliminate the need for oil. Finally, check the metal components of your tracks using a flashlight for any cracks. It’s time to replace them if they’re damaged.
Examine and Change the Rollers
Whether made of steel or nylon, the rollers need to be checked twice a year and replaced approximately every seven years, or even more frequently if your garage door is used frequently.
Rollers that are worn, chipped, or broken need to be replaced right away. Any roller brackets that are not directly connected to the cable system must be taken out and put back in place to do this.
Wrap up
Follow the aforementioned tips to prevent your garage door from breaking down. For more information about how to repair a broken garage door, get help from our experts today.
