A garage door that is not properly operating can cause serious injury or even death. You don’t want it to become a hazard to you and your family. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to keep it working throughout the year.
A good start is to look and listen. In this way, you can determine if your garage door is operating smoothly. Otherwise, here is a list of easy garage door maintenance tasks you can perform.
Watch it move when opening and closing. It should move all the way symmetrically, and without making excessive noise. Any worrisome noises like loud slapping sounds are an indicator of loose parts or a friction issue. Any grinding or scraping might be a sign of worn rollers, loose hardware, or an opener in need of anti-vibration pads.
Spray a penetrating solvent like RP7, Prime Flo, or WD-40 on all hinges, latches, rollers, and roller tracks. Do the same for the bearings on torsion-spring openers and the pulleys on extension-spring openers.
Clean everything, then apply a light oil to the same parts.
Use the same lubricant on the opener’s chain or screw. Keeping it greased up will extend the lifespan of your garage door opener.
If the weather-stripping on the bottom of your door is brittle or cracked, replace it immediately.
If you have a wood door and it does not have bottom weather-stripping, make sure it has been sealed or painted.
As any moving part, a lot of vibration is generated each time your garage door opens and closes. Eventually, important pieces of your doors design loosen. Inspect these essential components from time to time to ensure they are still working properly. If you find any issues, contact a certified garage door technician from One Clear Choice to handle the replacement or repair.
Finally, we recommend to add garage door maintenance to your spring or fall task list.
