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.
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