There is no other part of your home that experiences as much wear and tear as your garage door. You never realize how usually you use your garage door until the day it breaks down on you.The majority of families in the usa utilize the garage because the main entrance into their home, being used multiple times during the day, thousands of times per year. When kept in good working order, it can provide safety and storage at your convenience. Know more in detail about Garage Door Repairs Kent and Novoferm Garage Doors.
Having a garage really can make life easier, but when it is not cared for can become a protection risk to you, your loved ones, and especially children. With it's natural wear and tear, a garage door cable can come or a door opener can malfunction apart, resulting in a hazard to your anyone and belongings near your door.
To keep it jogging properly, it is essential to perform routine maintenance to avoid expensive repairs. The following top 10 garage door maintenance tips for homeowners will help keep your door working properly for years to come. These maintenance tips require no special skills and take less than 10 minutes each to perform usually.
Required Materials Needed
Avoid last minute trips the hardware store by having all of your components onsite and ready ahead of time. You may not use every single tool listed, but getting it available will save you time and frustration.
Wrench set
Tape Measure
Hammer
Pliers
Screw gun
Weatherstrip
Lubricant/Cleaner (WD-40)
White Lithium Grease
Toothbrush
Flat blade screwdriver
Garage door rollers
Safety First
In order to guarantee safety while working on your garage, remember to never remove the lift cable. The garage cables are under severe tension and will cut such as a knife if released.
Never try to adjust or release the garage door springs. This is a job that should be left for the professionals only.
1.) Paying Attention
When was the last time you inspected your garage door visually? You will possibly not be a certified technician, nevertheless, you can take time to check out your garage.
For those who have a metal garage, check for rust areas. These areas should be sanded, primed and painted. For those who have a wooden garage door, it should be checked for water damage. If not sealed properly, real wood garage can warp and shed their shape over time.
It will also be good to wash your door on a regular basis with an all-purpose cleaner. Your garage door makes up a large portion of the external of your home, so keeping it presentable and clean will have a positive effect on the appearance of your home.
2.) Watch & Listen To Your Door As It Operates
Do you have a noisy garage door? Do the springs pulleys and cables on both sides appearance symmetrical? Does it move smoothly? Or does it jerk in certain places?
Taking the time to observe and listen to your garage every time you use it is the top precaution every homeowner can perform. By doing this, you will be aware when something doesn't sound right, or when something looks out of place.
3.) Testing The Balance
First, disconnect the opener. You do this by pulling the reddish handle by the end of the reddish cord. Once it is disconnected, open the hinged door about half way. If the garage door starts to close on its own, then the garage door isn't balanced properly. The springs on the door need to be re-adjusted. We recommend that you contact a certified professional to repair or replace your springs.
Your garage opener will have to work harder if the hinged door is not properly balanced. This will shorten the lifespan of the door ultimately.
4.) Test Protection Features (Auto-Reverse)
There are two safety mechanisms on your garage: mechanical and photocell. A door that does not have these protection features will be outdated and must be replaced immediately.
In order to test the mechanical safety feature on your garage, place a solid object on the ground in the path of the garage door. When the garage touches the object while closing, it should automatically go back up.
When tests the photocell feature on your garage, simply stick out your leg in the door's path when closing. Your leg will come in contact with the photoelectric beam (not visible) that runs across the base of the door. The garage should reverse once your leg contacts the photoelectric beam automatically.
5.) Visually Inspect Your Cables
You should never touch the cables. These high tension cables are responsible for lifting the hinged door. They have enough push to cause significant injuries, even death. You can visually inspect that garage cables too if there are any broken strands or whatever is out of order. If you see there is damage, we recommend that you hire a professional.
6.) Clear The Tracks
Have a look at the tracks on both relative sides of the door. Clean the garage door tracks so there is no trash or debris. Also, look for any physical damage making sure it is aligned and straight. Tracks that are damaged can cause the hinged door to not be smooth and it will be very noisy.
Spray the garage tracks with a citrus-based solvent or WD-40, then wipe everything clean with a cloth. If needed, use an old toothbrush to loosen up grime and grime, wipe with a cloth then.
Any major adjustments or repairs to the tracks should be handled by a professional garage door technician.
7.) Apply Oil To The Relocating Parts
Ten minutes of work can add years to the life span of your garage door. Keeping your door parts lubricated will keep your garage running quiet and smooth. Your should use white lithium grease on your garage opener spray and chain lubricants on the rollers, hinges, bearings and tracks. Also apply grease to the garage door opener drive or chain screw.
Remember, never attempt to do any work on the springs or cables. Depart that to the professionals.
8.) Replace Weatherstripping (If Needed)
The weatherstrip is the piece of rubber attached to the bottom of your door. It is called a U-designed astragal. It keeps that rainfall water, debris and rodents from entering your garage. Check along the relative side of the door and adjust the stripping if necessary.
You should replace the rubber weather strip on your door if it's needs to crack and fall apart. Use a toned blade screwdriver to remove the old weather strip before installing a new one.
They are easily found at any hardware store like Home Depot or Lowe's and are usually sold by the foot. All you have to do is find the width that best fits your situation, lower it to fit your garage, then install. You can even contact your local garage company for those who have further concerns or questions.
9.) Check All The Bolts & Screws On Your Door
Examine and tighten the brackets on the rollers and the bolts with a (socket) wrench. The average garage opens and closes more than a thousand times a full year. It is easy for hardware, screws and bolts to turn out to be loose with all the current movement and vibration.
10.) Replace The Rollers
Garage rollers that are cracked, chipped or worn should be replaced immediately. You should only attempt to replace the rollers if it is not attached to the hinged door cable system.
Whether you have nylon rollers or steel rollers on your garage, they should be inspected at least twice a year and should be replaced every 7 years. If you frequently use your door more, you then should examine your rollers more often throughout the year.
Having a garage really can make life easier, but when it is not cared for can become a protection risk to you, your loved ones, and especially children. With it's natural wear and tear, a garage door cable can come or a door opener can malfunction apart, resulting in a hazard to your anyone and belongings near your door.
To keep it jogging properly, it is essential to perform routine maintenance to avoid expensive repairs. The following top 10 garage door maintenance tips for homeowners will help keep your door working properly for years to come. These maintenance tips require no special skills and take less than 10 minutes each to perform usually.
Required Materials Needed
Avoid last minute trips the hardware store by having all of your components onsite and ready ahead of time. You may not use every single tool listed, but getting it available will save you time and frustration.
Wrench set
Tape Measure
Hammer
Pliers
Screw gun
Weatherstrip
Lubricant/Cleaner (WD-40)
White Lithium Grease
Toothbrush
Flat blade screwdriver
Garage door rollers
Safety First
In order to guarantee safety while working on your garage, remember to never remove the lift cable. The garage cables are under severe tension and will cut such as a knife if released.
Never try to adjust or release the garage door springs. This is a job that should be left for the professionals only.
1.) Paying Attention
When was the last time you inspected your garage door visually? You will possibly not be a certified technician, nevertheless, you can take time to check out your garage.
For those who have a metal garage, check for rust areas. These areas should be sanded, primed and painted. For those who have a wooden garage door, it should be checked for water damage. If not sealed properly, real wood garage can warp and shed their shape over time.
It will also be good to wash your door on a regular basis with an all-purpose cleaner. Your garage door makes up a large portion of the external of your home, so keeping it presentable and clean will have a positive effect on the appearance of your home.
2.) Watch & Listen To Your Door As It Operates
Do you have a noisy garage door? Do the springs pulleys and cables on both sides appearance symmetrical? Does it move smoothly? Or does it jerk in certain places?
Taking the time to observe and listen to your garage every time you use it is the top precaution every homeowner can perform. By doing this, you will be aware when something doesn't sound right, or when something looks out of place.
3.) Testing The Balance
First, disconnect the opener. You do this by pulling the reddish handle by the end of the reddish cord. Once it is disconnected, open the hinged door about half way. If the garage door starts to close on its own, then the garage door isn't balanced properly. The springs on the door need to be re-adjusted. We recommend that you contact a certified professional to repair or replace your springs.
Your garage opener will have to work harder if the hinged door is not properly balanced. This will shorten the lifespan of the door ultimately.
4.) Test Protection Features (Auto-Reverse)
There are two safety mechanisms on your garage: mechanical and photocell. A door that does not have these protection features will be outdated and must be replaced immediately.
In order to test the mechanical safety feature on your garage, place a solid object on the ground in the path of the garage door. When the garage touches the object while closing, it should automatically go back up.
When tests the photocell feature on your garage, simply stick out your leg in the door's path when closing. Your leg will come in contact with the photoelectric beam (not visible) that runs across the base of the door. The garage should reverse once your leg contacts the photoelectric beam automatically.
5.) Visually Inspect Your Cables
You should never touch the cables. These high tension cables are responsible for lifting the hinged door. They have enough push to cause significant injuries, even death. You can visually inspect that garage cables too if there are any broken strands or whatever is out of order. If you see there is damage, we recommend that you hire a professional.
6.) Clear The Tracks
Have a look at the tracks on both relative sides of the door. Clean the garage door tracks so there is no trash or debris. Also, look for any physical damage making sure it is aligned and straight. Tracks that are damaged can cause the hinged door to not be smooth and it will be very noisy.
Spray the garage tracks with a citrus-based solvent or WD-40, then wipe everything clean with a cloth. If needed, use an old toothbrush to loosen up grime and grime, wipe with a cloth then.
Any major adjustments or repairs to the tracks should be handled by a professional garage door technician.
7.) Apply Oil To The Relocating Parts
Ten minutes of work can add years to the life span of your garage door. Keeping your door parts lubricated will keep your garage running quiet and smooth. Your should use white lithium grease on your garage opener spray and chain lubricants on the rollers, hinges, bearings and tracks. Also apply grease to the garage door opener drive or chain screw.
Remember, never attempt to do any work on the springs or cables. Depart that to the professionals.
8.) Replace Weatherstripping (If Needed)
The weatherstrip is the piece of rubber attached to the bottom of your door. It is called a U-designed astragal. It keeps that rainfall water, debris and rodents from entering your garage. Check along the relative side of the door and adjust the stripping if necessary.
You should replace the rubber weather strip on your door if it's needs to crack and fall apart. Use a toned blade screwdriver to remove the old weather strip before installing a new one.
They are easily found at any hardware store like Home Depot or Lowe's and are usually sold by the foot. All you have to do is find the width that best fits your situation, lower it to fit your garage, then install. You can even contact your local garage company for those who have further concerns or questions.
9.) Check All The Bolts & Screws On Your Door
Examine and tighten the brackets on the rollers and the bolts with a (socket) wrench. The average garage opens and closes more than a thousand times a full year. It is easy for hardware, screws and bolts to turn out to be loose with all the current movement and vibration.
10.) Replace The Rollers
Garage rollers that are cracked, chipped or worn should be replaced immediately. You should only attempt to replace the rollers if it is not attached to the hinged door cable system.
Whether you have nylon rollers or steel rollers on your garage, they should be inspected at least twice a year and should be replaced every 7 years. If you frequently use your door more, you then should examine your rollers more often throughout the year.