Garage Door Maintenance Tips For This Fall
A garage door here in the Phoenix Valley acts as a barrier between weather and the inside of your home. When it finally starts getting to those few cold months, your garage can be surrounded by moisture and very differing temperatures. Making sure you keep up with regular garage door maintenance will make sure you and your home are safe. Check out a few of our maintenance tips you should be sure to follow this fall.
Inspect Your Garage Door Systems
Start of your routine maintenance with a inspection of your door's track system. Make sure the tracks on both sides of the door are free of debris blocking any movement. Try opening and closing your door which will allow you to see if the door is opening without any glitches in the system.
Next, move to the photosensors and make sure that they are performing properly. These sensors are installed on the sides of the door at about 6" inches above the ground. It performs as a safety device designed to stop the door from closing if there is something in the way. Make sure the sensors are adequately supported and secure on the side of the doors.
Ensure that the sensors are performing by putting an object at the height of the sensors. When pressing the close button of your garage door opener, the door should not close. If it does anyways you now know that this can be a safety hazard. If you notice this issue, make sure to call Garage Door Grunts, a top-tier garage door repair company in Phoenix.
Test the Garage Door Spring
Did you know that your garage door can open and close efficiently 10,000 times?
After a harsh Phoenix summer, your garage door can really take on a lot of stress that comes with the activity of summer. Make sure to test your springs to ensure that it has not been damaged during that time.
First, visually examine the spring. One thing to remember is that there are times that a bad spring can simply stretch instead of completely snapping. Either way you may see that the door has an imbalance. One common example is the top part of the door may be misaligned with the rest of the door.
Second, another symptom of a broken spring may be the motor turning without the door moving at all. This may be accompanied by a high screeching sound as it tries to open. This is an obvious sign that the spring is not moving along with the motor.
If you notice you have a bad spring, continuing to use your garage door opener may be the worst thing you could do. We recommend contacting a licensed garage door technician like Garage Door Grunts immediately if you find this issue. By waiting to do so, the rails may begin to bend, or gears may start to strip off from the opener's mechanism.
Perform A Regular Cleaning and Lubrication
Fall in the Valley may have brought in a good amount of debris and dust. Before you start cleaning the door off, inspect the outside of the door for any rusting. If you find you have rust or peeling paint try to sand and repaint it for better protection.
If you have a wood garage door use a dry cloth to wipe down the exterior. If you have a metal door use a softer cloth with some type of cleaner.
When cleaning, lubricate every moving part. Friction on rollers and the tracks can cut down the lifespan of your garage opener. You can apply a high-quality lubricant twice a year to keep it efficient.
Many garage door companies suggest lubricating with silicone or lithium-based grease. Oil products like WD-40 are degreasers, which can increase friction. After lubricating parts, make sure to clean up any spills to prevent staining the opener or your garage floor.
Test Your Garage Door Balance
As you are inspecting your garage door you need to make sure the door is level. This is vital because when the weight balance is even across all springs and pulleys it puts much less stress on your garage door system. If you let an unbalanced door continue to open and close it can eventually lead to the spring breaking.
A simple visual check can let you know if the door is level. If the door is slanting that means the force is not being used equally on the springs. If you find yourself in this position you should call a garage door technician immediately before letting your garage door incur more damage.
Another thing you may notice is it takes longer than usual to shut or close the garage. Unbalanced doors can be very loud and will begin to produce strange sounds when you open or close them. If you have recently lubricated moving parts and it is still making noises, you may want to schedule repairs.
It is important to know that we recommend a professional fixing defective parts like a spring. Even though we all love a good DIY repair, somethings are meant to be left to the pros.
Schedule Garage Door Maintenance
Your maintenance routine will depend on the type and number of layers on the door. A triple-layered door offers additional protection and is quieter than a single-layered one. However, the multiple layers make it heavier and more expensive.
We recommend that you schedule maintenance at least once a year. A garage door can be one of the heaviest items to your entire home. Make sure that it is performing properly which will prevent accidents and keep you, your home, and your loved ones safe.
As a veteran-owned and operated company, Garage Door Grunts has been offering unbeatable garage door solutions for commercial and residential garage door sales, repair services, and installation. We offer custom services to all Phoenix Valley home's or business’s.
Contact our team today to schedule your routine maintenance check this fall!