The Importance of Garage Door Repair and Maintenance

December 7th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Just like anything else with movable parts, your overhead garage door does require a certain amount of ongoing maintenance to keep it functioning at its optimum level of performance. In addition, there are parts of your garage door that may need to be repaired or replaced over time. 

Having your garage door inspected and maintained annually can help alleviate problems in operation and avoid more expensive repair bills. Your garage door has several hinges which should be lubricated, along with the rollers for your garage door and the springs. You can purchase this lubricant from your local garage door repair professional, if you feel comfortable doing the lubrication yourself. However, having it done by the professional, along with a full inspection of your garage door may be a better option. 

During a maintenance inspection, a garage door repair specialist should check several different items. Checking the balance of the door is a critical part of that inspection to determine if your garage door is in need of repair. If a garage door is out of alignment, continual operation of the door while it is out of balance can cause additional stress on the parts. An out of balance door can also be the sign of a garage door spring that is in need of replacement. All the bolts and screws of your garage door hardware should be checked and tightened if necessary during your maintenance inspection. 

If you have a wooden garage door, keeping the paint on both the inside and outside of the door maintained is another important factor. Paint is not just there for aesthetics. The paint is there to protect the wood from moisture damage. Applying a fresh coat every few years will maintain both the appearance and the protective seal on your garage door.

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When to Call A Garage Door Service

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Modern garage doors and garage door openers are designed to work great for years, but with daily use parts can wear out or go out of adjustment and when they do, the garage door will need professional attention.  Some garage door problems can be addressed by the homeowner, but most garage door repairs should be performed by a professional garage door service.

For example, a broken spring is a very common garage door malfunction.  Most garage doors are equipped with either torsion springs mounted over the garaged door opening or extension spring mounted along the tracks.  These springs help lift the door and are under a tremendous amount of tension.  They can cause serious injuries or even death if mishandled.  A homeowner should never attempt to repair, replace, or adjust the garage door springs.  Let the pros handle garage door spring repairs.

Repairing bent door tracks is another example of a garage door repair that is best handled by a trained technician.  Garage door tracks are frequently bent when they are accidently struck by a vehicle.  Homeowners who attempt to straighten and align the track generally experience poor results and run the risk of the door falling off the tracks. An experienced technician can quickly replace and align the door track and get your garage door working smoothly again.

If the door is already off the track, you should immediately shut off the power to the opener to prevent inadvertent operation of the door and then call your garage door repair service.  Garage doors are much heavier than most people think and a garage door that is off the tracks poses a serious risk that it will fall  and injure someone or cause damage to your vehicle or other property.  Stay well away from the garage door until your garage door repair professional arrives and reinstalls the door on the track.

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Steel Garage Door Maintenance

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Modern steel garage doors are designed to require very little maintenance, but there are a few things you should do to keep your garage door and garage door opener working smoothly.  First, steel garage doors have a long lasting baked on finish, but an occasional cleaning with a soft sponge or rag and a little mild soap will help keeping it looking like new.  Once you are done, rinse it with a hose and let it dry.

Next, check to make sure all of the safety features are working properly. With the door in the open position, activate the garage door opener and check to see that the door reverses and moves to the fully open position when the photoelectric light beam is broken.

Now, with the door in the open position, place a block of wood such as a 2 X 4 flat on the garage floor in the path of the door and activate the door opener.  When the door reaches the wood block, it should reverse and go to the fully open position.  If there is a problem with either of these safety mechanisms, you should have the door serviced by a trained technician.

Be sure to keep the area clear of children and pets and be very cautious when working around a moving garage door.  Be very careful not to get your fingers pinched in the hinges, rollers, or tracks.

Finally, with door closed, lubricate the hinges, rollers, and springs with a non-silicone based spray lubricant.  Remember, the springs are under very high tension so any garage door repairs or adjustments related to the springs, cables, or pulleys, should only be performed by a trained garage door technician.

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Inspect Your Garage Door Pulleys and Cables

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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Good garage door maintenance includes a thorough inspection of your pulleys and cables.  Most people are under the impression that their garage door opener does most of the work when opening the garage door.  In fact, garage doors are equipped with a counterweight system that helps open the garage door.

An average garage door weighs between 200 and 400 pounds and without the lift assistance provide by the counterweight system, the opener would need a much stronger motor and the door would virtually impossible to open manually.

Large springs act as counterweights to help open heavy garage doors.  These springs are connected to the door through a system of cables and pulleys.  The springs, cables, and pulleys are under a lot of tension so it is important to inspect them regularly and call your garage door repair service when you notice any signs of wear.

Inspect the cables carefully for any signs of fraying or corrosion.  Wipe a soft cotton cloth gently over the cable to locate any broken stands.  A broken strand will snag the cloth and is a sign that cable is wearing out.  Visually inspect the pulleys for wear and damage.

If you find any damage or wear on the pulleys or cables, have them replaced by an experienced garage door technician.  Never try to replace garage door pulleys, cables, or springs.  These are all under very high tension and can cause severe injuries and even death.  Your garage door repair technician has the experience and training to safely replace worn garage door springs, cables and pulleys.

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