Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Garage Door Maintenance Tips

A well-functioning garage door is one of those things people take for granted until it’s gone. Don’t wait until your car is trapped in your garage to think about garage door maintenance. Most major problems can be avoided with a preventative monthly maintenance check.

Before You Begin

Most minor garage door malfunctions can be handled by the average homeowner. However, you don’t want to touch the torsion spring, the giant black spring that rests over the center of the doorway. Because these springs exert a lot of pressure, you can easily injure yourself trying to adjust the red bolts. Spring repairs are best left to a professional.

Common Garage Door Problems to Check For

Unbalanced Door

A garage door is unbalanced if it looks tipped to one side when raising or lowering. You can test the balance of your door by pulling the red release handle and manually rolling the door up about halfway.

A balanced garage door will stay in the same spot you left it, while an unbalanced garage door will move from this position. If your garage door is unbalanced, you will need to call a professional to fix it, as the problem likely stems from the spring.

Loss of Sensitivity

Garage doors are specifically designed so they don’t accidentally close on people, pets or belongings. For this function to work properly, though, you have to check the door periodically.

Make sure the door recoils when it touches an object by placing a two-by-four or cinder block on the floor in the middle of the doorway. Press the button to close the garage door. Ideally, the door will touch the object lightly, then open back up. If the door fails to reverse, you will have to adjust the reversal setting on the garage door opener.

Ineffective Motion Sensors

Your garage door should stop if an object crosses underneath the door because it should be flanked on both sides by motion sensors. Test this feature by pressing the garage door button and waving a broom or mop under the door in the sensor area.

If the system fails, clean each sensor with a cotton swab and perform the test again. Upon a second failure, check that the motion sensors are aligned. Usually, a light on each sensor will indicate this. You may be able to adjust these sensors on your own by loosening and tightening the screws.

Grimy Track or Worn Rollers

You may notice that your garage door sticks, jerks or makes unpleasant noises. This could indicate a problem with the tracks or rollers. Tracks become dirty with use, making it difficult for the rollers to move. Rollers also break down on their own due to wear and tear.

Keep the tracks clear by cleaning and lubricating them every so often. Clear away gunk with a vacuum, cloth or toothbrush, then apply disc brake cleaner. As you’re doing this, also check that the tracks are aligned. If they aren’t, loosen and tighten the mounting bolts until the tracks are properly sloped and parallel to each other.

The problem could also be with the rollers themselves. Try applying a lubricant, graphite powder or silicone spray to encourage movement. You may need to replace your rollers if this solution doesn’t 

work.

Slack Chain

The chain will naturally loosen over time with the repeated use of your garage door. While this is normal, you do not want the chain rubbing against the rail or making an obnoxious knocking noise every time you open the door.

To tighten a loose chain, adjust the chain nuts on either side of the turnbuckle with a wrench. The chain should dip slightly and sit above the bottom of the rail by one-fourth to one-half of an inch. Overtightening can cause damage, so be careful that the chain isn’t pulled completely straight and taut.

Get a Brand-New Car for Your Garage at Neil Huffman Honda of Frankfort

Once you’ve completed your garage door maintenance, you can be sure your car will be adequately protected. At Neil Huffman Honda of Frankfort, we offer stellar deals and specials on all Honda makes and models. Call us at 888-501-0578 or visit us in-person to find your dream vehicle today.