When you do a monthly maintenance of your garage door opener, it will surely work efficiently and smoothly for many years to come. It will also save you the trouble of operation failures every time. A garage door opener is one of the largest moving sections in your home. It will be used multiple times everyday and throughout all the seasons of the year. For these reasons, it is best to invest time to perform preventive measures and care of your unit whether it’s a normal system or one today’s best wifi garage door openers.
Here are methods that you can use so that you can prevent garage door opener troubles in your home:
Look and listen
Ensure that you see visually its action every time you are using it. It is the most important thing to start as a prevention measure. Is the door moving slowly or is it jerky in some places? Does the door make grinding noises or it operates silently? You can also check whether both system sides are symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Tightening hardware up
The average time a garage door moves from top to bottom per year is a thousand times. That means a lot of vibrations and movements and causes the hardware to become loose every time. All you have to do is to examine your garage door and then tighten any loose bolts and roller brackets using a socket wrench.
Test the balance
If the door is not well balanced, then the opener will be forced to work hard and will not last for long. Pull release handle so that you can be able to disconnect the opener. Then move door halfway up manually and if it won’t be able to stay put then there is an imbalance with the counterweight system. Adjusting springs of a garage door requires a professional.
Rollers replacements
You can inspect the rollers whether they are nylon or steel twice a year. They should be replaced at least after every seven years or less in case you use your garage door many times before the day ends. If they are worn out, cracked or chipped then they need to be replaced possibly very soon. You will do this by reinstalling after removing the roller brackets that are not directly attached to system cable.
Replace weatherstripping
When you find that the rubber seal strip that is in the bottom of the garage door is cracked or brittle then you will be forced to replace it. Weatherstripping can be found at home improvement stores and hardware that are near your location [1]. You will have to cut the right size and then insert it into grooves using the wide angle of the flange is inside the door.
Lubricate moving parts
Always ensure that you keep the garage door parts greased and it will add years of operation for your system. You will have to use white lithium grease on screws and openers chain, then spray lubricant that is available. It will help to coat overhead springs.
Check cables
When you are inspecting your garage door opener, don’t ever tinker using high-tension cables that are used to lift your door because the force they have can maim and kill you. All you will need to do is to check their conditions and know when to look for a professional to repair them. Keep checking broken strands and then also check damages that are near the bottom roller bracket.
Test auto-reverse safety features
There are two mechanisms that need to be tested, that is photocell and mechanical. To test the mechanical feature, put a piece of brick or wood on the ground that is in the path of the garage doorway. If the door is closing and it touches the brick or wood, it should reverse its direction and move back again. When testing photoelectric system, use beams on each side, close the door, then pass your leg in the path of the door. The door should also reverse.
If your opener is too old, especially if it’s over 20 years, then it might end up lacking these basic safety measures, making it the perfect time to invest in today’s quietest garage door openers for a change.
Clearing the tracks
If your garage door tracks have accumulated oil/grease or dirt then use disc brake cleaner to remove it. Additionally, always ensure that the tracks on both sides of the garage door are debris free. If you want further inspection, look for a level to check the plumb. Some garage door opener repairs can be done by you, but if a major adjustment is needed, then ensure that it is done by a professional garage door technician.
Grooming the garage door
You may have done the examination on the safety of your garage door opener but don’t forget the door itself. If the door is made of wood material, then it will require being checked for wrap and water damage. You can also check peeling and chipped points. If you are using steel garage door, they get rust spots and they will demand sanding, priming, and then painting. Ensure that you wash the garage door regularly to keep it clean—in most cases, like you do to your car door.
It is better not to forget that garage doors are one-third of your house extension, and you have to ensure that it is clean and fresh. If you are busy and lack time to check your garage door, then look for a technician to do the service so that he can fix it.
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