Your garage door is the single biggest entry point to your home. And for this reason, only, it is important to ensure that it works properly all year round to ensure the security of your home. However, it is no ordinary door as it contains a lot of mechanical moving parts.
As such, just like any other machine, a garage door is susceptible to breaking down if not well taken care of. A poorly maintained garage door is not only a security hazard but also a safety hazard. Routine seasonal maintenance, therefore, is important in ensuring that the safety and security of your household are not compromised in addition to helping you avoid hefty repair costs.
Experts recommend that you schedule a professional inspection of your garage door twice a year. Consider planning this inspection around the same time your HVAC systems are checked.
However, there are a few things you can do yourself to help make sure that your door stays in top shape. The following are ten garage door maintenance tips that homeowners in Alameda can utilize:
1. Routine Visual Inspection
Always pay attention to your garage door whenever it opens or closes. The door should move up and down smoothly without any jerking or noises such as grinding or scraping.
Also, look out for signs of wear at least once a month. This means inspecting the pulleys, springs, cables, and other mechanical components. If you notice any damage, call garage door repair experts in Alameda to check it out.
2. Tighten Your Hardware
It is estimated that the average garage door is used at least 1000 times a year. That kind of usage is enough to loosen components such as bolts and roller brackets. Fortunately, if you have a socket wrench, a few minutes every weekend are enough to tighten everything up to ensure everything works as it should.
3. Test Balance
Performing a monthly balance test is important in making sure that the door is not stressing the opener. To do this, you will first have to disconnect the door from its open. Next, open and close the door manually while pausing at the middle a few times.
A good door should move smoothly while staying in place whenever you open. If upon letting go the door retracts back open or falls close, contact a professional to re-balance the door.
4. Inspect and lean the Springs and Tracks
Regularly inspecting your
and tracks is vital as it helps you detect issues before they become worse. A door with good springs can be manually opened by a child when disconnected from its opener.
Springs are usually under high tension and can, therefore, cause serious injury if you attempt to repair them yourself. Contact a professional to handle any issue you find with the springs.
Also, ensure to take care of your tracks by cleaning them every month. Remove any debris that might get in the rollers' way.
5. Lubricate Moving Parts
Lubrication is key to ensuring that the door's rollers and other moving parts do not wear out. Therefore, make a point of spraying lubricant on rollers, pulleys, and springs at least twice a year.
6. Inspect Your Pulleys and Cables
If your door has extension springs, inspect the condition of its cables and pulleys. Look for any broken cable strands or damage at the bottom roller bracket. Contact a certified technician if you find any issues.
7. Repair the Weather Strip
Every six months, look at the weather strip seal at the bottom of the door to ensure it is in good shape. This strip usually keeps out dirt and dust. Thus, if you notice any cracks or loose spots, fix those areas or replace the entire strip. You can purchase garage door weather stripping at your local hardware store.
8. Test Auto-Reverse Features
An automatic garage door opener has an auto-reverse feature that works to detect resistance so as to reverse the door's movement if it comes into contact with something or someone before reaching the ground.
Testing this safety feature, therefore, involves placing an object under the door's path. The door should reverse its direction upon contacting the object.
9. Inspect Your Rollers
The door's rollers need to be inspected at least twice a year and replaced at least every five years. Look for signs of cracks or wear and replace the rollers if you notice any issue. Again, ensure that you call a professional.
10. Clean the Door
Basic cleanliness is helpful in extending the door's life as you will be protecting it from dirt and corrosion.
Therefore, make a habit of dusting the door on both sides then wiping it down with a mild detergent. Rinse with water to remove all the detergent.
Also, consider applying car wax on the exterior to protect the door from grime and moisture.
It is easy to slack off on garage door maintenance. This can make your door susceptible to malfunctions which can make it easy for potential intruders to gain access to your home, or injure someone passing underneath it.
Regular maintenance, therefore, is critical towards avoiding the above.
However, the best course of action is to work with garage door repair experts to help you ensure that your door is always in top shape. Are you looking for garage door repair experts in Oakland, Ca? Best & Local Garage Door & Automatic Gate is the premier garage door maintenance and repair company in Alameda. We work with homeowners to not only repair faulty door but also to prevent future defects through regular maintenance. Contact us today on 510-500-5522 and we will be glad to serve you.
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