Spring Garage Door Tune Up

As you work your way down your spring home maintenance to-do’s, don’t forget to add spring garage door tune ups to the list. Annual inspections help ensure reliable, quiet operation of the door as well as home safety. A neglected garage door can become noisy and pose significant security and safety risks to you and your family. The average garage door does up and down over 1000 times a year! So you can only imagine the wear and tear that occurs from regular use. Some things to focus on during your garage door tune up are:
Inspect Your Door’s Hardware:

1. Tighten Nuts and Bolts- Garage door hardware can loosen. Inspect and tighten any loose roller brackets as well as the bolts that hold the rails to the support brackets.
2. Inspect Rollers for Wear and Tear- Nylon rollers crack and chip as they deteriorate while steel rollers tend to tilt as they weather. We recommend buying replacements if they are worn but do not remove the bottom roller bracket as this is under high tension and should only be replaced by a professional.
3. Inspect the Lift Cable for Wear- Look for broken cable strands but do not replace it yourself. This cable is under very high tension and should only be replaced by a professional.

Maintain Springs, Chains and Seals:

1. Lubricate Springs, Chains and Screws- Apply a small amount of spray lubricant to the door’s hinges, rollers, torsion springs, end bearings, center bearings, locks and tracks as needed. By lubricating your garage door in the appropriate places, it will make the opener operate quieter and smoother. This can also help extend the life of both the opener and the door.
2. Replace Weather Seal- Over the harsh winter, your weather seals have been tested and can become brittle and worn. Replace the seal to ensure another year’s worth of protection. Through weather proofing and insulating the garage door, it can save you on your utility bill and remain drier throughout the winter months and cooler during summer.

Test Your Door’s Capabilities:

1. Balance- Disconnect the automatic opener from the door by pulling the opener release handle. Then manually lift the door halfway. A well balanced garage door will hold that position. If it rides up, the springs are under too much tension. If it falls, the tension needs to be increased.
2. Auto Reverse- Place a 2" x 4" board (laid flat) under the middle of your garage door and try to close it. As it impacts the board it should stop and reverse within 2 seconds. If your door does not reverse please refer to your garage door openers manual for instructions.

Keeping your garage door safe and functional is an important part of owning a home. Use spring as a time to inspect and replace any pieces of your door that may not be functioning or are weathered from the winter. It will not only save you money in the long run, but also give you piece of mind as you drive your car into your garage each night.

If you are uncomfortable with performing any of these repairs or maintenance items please call a garage door technician.