Garage Door Maintenance: Keeping It Smooth
Your garage door is likely the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. Regular maintenance is essential not only to keep it operating smoothly and quietly but also for the safety of you and your family. A few simple checks and lubrication tasks performed annually can prevent major problems and extend the life of your door and opener.
⚠️ The Golden Rule of Garage Door Safety
There is one part of your garage door you should NEVER touch.
Do NOT attempt to adjust, repair, or remove the high-tension springs (the large springs either above the door or along the sides). These springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury or death if they are released improperly. Spring replacement and adjustment is a job for trained professionals only.
🔧 Safe DIY Maintenance Tasks
You can safely perform these maintenance tasks to keep your door in good working order.
Annual Maintenance Checklist:
- Look and Listen: Operate the door and watch it as it moves. Does it move smoothly or is it jerky? Does it make a lot of scraping or grinding noises?
- Tighten the Hardware: The constant movement and vibration can loosen nuts and bolts. Use a wrench to tighten all the roller brackets and bolts.
- Test the Balance: Disconnect the opener (pull the red cord) and lift the door manually. It should lift smoothly with little resistance and stay open about halfway up. If it's hard to lift or falls down, the springs are out of balance and need professional adjustment.
- Test the Auto-Reverse Safety Features: Place a 2x4 board flat on the ground in the door's path. When the door hits the board, it should immediately reverse. Also, test the photo-eye sensors near the bottom by waving an object in front of them as the door closes; it should reverse.
✨ Lubrication is Key
Proper lubrication quiets the door and reduces wear and tear on its moving parts.
A well-maintained garage door is a safe garage door. If your door is out of balance, a spring is broken, or the safety features are not working, do not use it. Contact The Box Advantage Group for professional and safe garage door repair and maintenance services.
