Tips on Maintaining Your Garage Door

A garage door is the unsung hero among home appliances. It works multiple times a day at any hour and during all seasons to make our lives more convenient. It also keeps our valuable automobiles safe from weather and theft. Yet for all the hard work they endure, garage doors are rarely serviced and maintained.

Here is what home owners can do to ensure that their garage doors keep working smoothly.

Test if the Garage Door is properly balanced

A garage door that is not properly balanced causes excess stress upon the garage door opener causing it to wear out fast.

Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to check the balance of your garage door. First, you disconnect the door opener. After that, you have to manually move the garage door until it’s about halfway open. If your garage door manages to stay up, it means it’s properly balanced. However, if it does not, it’s time to call a professional garage door service provider to adjust the springs.

Inspect the Cables

Garage door systems utilize high tension cables to lift up doors. Under normal circumstances, these cables should never be tampered with. However, it’s imperative that you check the condition of the cables from time to time. If they are showing signs of wear or damage, they should be replaced immediately. According statistics, 16.5% of all garage-related injuries are caused by falling doors.

Proper Lubrication

Most garage doors depend upon sliding or rolling mechanisms to open and close. Lubricating your garage door takes no more than a few minutes and it can prolong your garage door’s life by years. Just a little grease needs to be applied on the door opener chain and the overhead springs. It’s advisable to lubricate your garage door at least twice a year.

Check the Safety Sensor

The law requires all home garage doors to have safety features. Most garage door systems have safety sensors that automatically engage the door’s reversing mechanism if they detect an object between the garage door and the threshold.

Checking safety sensors is even more important if you have small children in the house. A properly functioning safety sensor is necessary to prevent accidents and injuries.

While these tips can help prolong your garage door’s life, they are not a substitute for professional garage door service and maintenance. It’s advisable to schedule appointments twice a year with a reputable garage door repair service company. Your Garage Door Guys is based in Oakley, CA and offers all kinds of garage door services. Call 925-308-6011 now.