23/05/2019
You may be reluctant to add anything to your list of home maintenance tasks. However, seasonal preventative maintenance of your garage door could save you a lot of money. That’s why the team at Crowfoot & Cross Town Garage Door Services has decided to provide a list of the main tasks you can do yourself. Here’s what you should do.
1. Examine the door
Inspect the way your garage door opens and closes. Be on the lookout for jerky movements and ensure both sides of the door look symmetrical. Listen for grinding or scraping noises. These could indicate a problem.
2. Tighten up the hardware
Most garage doors open and close about a thousand times a year. Over time, the hardware will loosen due to the movement and vibration during operation. Examine the rollers, nuts and bolts and tighten them with a socket wrench at least twice a year.
3. Check the balance
Unbalanced doors place excessive strain on openers and reduce their lifespan. Disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle, then manually open the garage door halfway. If the door doesn’t remain in place at the halfway mark, a professional will need to adjust the counterweight system.
4. Inspect the rollers
Whether they’re made of steel or nylon, rollers should be inspected twice a year. Worn, chipped or cracked rollers should be replaced immediately to maintain optimal performance.
5. Check the weatherstripping
If the rubber strip on the bottom of your garage door is brittle or cracked, replace it right away.
6. Keep moving parts lubricated
To maintain a smooth and safe operation, lubricate moving metal parts of your garage door at least twice a year, which will add years to its lifespan. Use a silicone & CFC-free garage door lubricant like Dura-Glide Heavy Duty Garage Door Lubricant, which can be purchased through our company.
7. Check your cables
Never try to repair garage door cables on your own. They’re under enough tension to cause serious and potentially lethal injuries. Call a professional if you see broken strands or damage near the bottom roller bracket.
8. Test safety features
Automatic garage doors are equipped with mechanical and photocell auto-reverse systems. Test the mechanical system by placing a brick or a bit of wood in the door’s path and close it. It should reverse when it comes in contact with it. To test the photocell sensors, simply put your leg in the door’s path for a second or two while it’s closing.
Openers older than 20 years old aren’t equipped with these features and should be replaced. Any garage door opener that fails one or both tests should be professionally inspected and repaired at once.
9. Clean the tracks
Make sure the tracks are free of debris. Use a toothbrush to dislodge unwanted grease, grime and dirt, and thoroughly wipe down with a clean rag.
10. Call a professional
Many garage door repairs are best left to the professionals, and for those you can fix yourself, you’ll need help finding quality parts. For all your garage door needs, trust Crowfoot & Cross Town Garage Door Services for any garage door repairs in Calgary. Call us today with your maintenance questions or to schedule a repair or installation.