Your garage door is a workhorse: every day it lifts your heavy door up and lets it down safely, often multiple times. When things go wrong with your garage door, you might find your car trapped (always before an important work presentation or an anticipated event) or that you’re locked out of the space. Keeping up with your twice-yearly garage door spring maintenance in Rochester, NY can help ensure that you won’t run into these issues at the least convenient time possible.
Remember, garage doors can be dangerous. If you notice any issues, make sure to call your local garage door company, Affordable Garage Doors, for safe and professional repair:
- Look and listen: The first item on your to-do list is also the easiest—pay attention to how your garage door is operating. Watch it open and close, and listen carefully. Are there any areas where the door seems to be having difficulty? Do you notice any unusual noises or quirks? Follow the rest of these tips, then call a professional if you still have trouble.
- Tighten hardware: Look around your garage door’s machinery and hardware. Sometimes screws and bolts can wiggle loose as the door opens and closes—the vibration may cause the hardware to loosen and come away from the wall. This is an easy fix that you can do yourself.
- Make sure the tracks are clear: The tracks that help lift your garage door need to be clean and free of dust, dirt and debris. Wipe these down and remove any blockages.
- Check cables and pulleys for damage: Never try to replace the cables and pulleys yourself, but regularly inspect for damage to prevent bigger issues. Inspect the cables and pulleys to spot signs of fraying, rust or corrosion, and if you see a problem, call your garage door contractor.
- Replace the rollers: Rollers can get worn, cracked or chipped over time, which interferes with your door’s performance. The rollers—except for the bottom ones near the door, which are attached to the lift cables—can be replaced during a DIY project. If you’re not the handy type, your garage door contractor will of course be able to help.
- Test the automatic stop and reverse function: Automatic garage doors today are designed to stop (and usually reverse) if they detect an obstruction. To test this, place a board or other “safe” object underneath the open door, and try to close it. It should immediately stop and reverse.
- Lubricate the moving parts: Another easy maintenance task you can do yourself is lubricate the moving hardware, like the rollers and door openers. Use the best quality spray you can afford, and use WD-40 or grease as well if they seem stuck.
- Clean and paint the door: Finally, you can wash and paint your door to make it look better than ever, and increase your home’s curb appeal at the same time.
Ready to schedule your garage door spring maintenance in Rochester, NY? Call Affordable Garage Doors to book a visit.