perform maintenance reduces damage
There are two main parts to a garage door system: the garage door and the garage door opener, which controls the door's movement. Review garage door repairs. Some garages have an electrical mechanism to automatically open or close the garage door when the homeowner presses a button on a small remote control. Some garages have enough space, even with cars inside, for the storage of items such as bicycles or a lawnmower; in some cases, there may even be enough space for a workshop or a man cave. Garages that are attached to a house may be built with the same external materials and roofing as the house.
If your garage door won’t open, don’t panic. There are a number of repairs that might fix the problem and you can avoid buying an entirely new garage door.
Like all mechanical systems, garage doors require regular maintenance and service to ensure they operate properly and with maximum safety and minimize garage door repairs. Two of the most common garage door components to degrade over time are the lift-assisting springs and the rollers in the track. Here a few simple steps to check your garage door’s springs and rollers:
With the garage door in the closed position, pull the manual disengage handle to release the door from the opener.Using the garage door handle near the bottom of the door, lift the door manually. If the springs are functioning properly, it should take relatively little physical effort to lift the door. The door should lift up evenly and smoothly up and down the roller tracks on either side. If the door is extremely heavy to lift or doesn’t lift evenly, releasing the door could cause it to slam down, which could cause serious injury or damage.
Here are some other maintenance tips
Inspect your garage door at least once a year for damage that might affect the finish or lead to rust.
Wood doors should be refinished/resealed at least every two years.
Protect any type of garage door from water, especially runoff and splash back from the roof eaves. Direct water away from the door, including proper drainage in front of the lower section of the door.
Keep kids from using the door as a backstop.
Wash your garage door regularly, with water and a mild detergent. Use car wax on metal doors to protect the finish.
Check that the weather stripping along the bottom is in good condition. If it is cracked, it can easily be slid off and replaced.
Lubricate the moving parts of a garage door, such as the hinges, rollers and springs, with a lubricant specifically designed for garage doors.
Openers do not require extra lubricant.
Test the safety-reversing sensor once a month.
Always refer to the owner’s manual for your door and opener.
Caution: If a roll-up door has only one torsion spring, at the center of the door, do not try to repair it. The tension is so great that the spring could injure you. For doors with this type of spring, call a professional repair service.
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