Short answer: A little regular attention keeps your garage door quiet, safe, and reliable. Here's what to watch and when.
A little regular attention keeps your garage door quiet, safe, and reliable. Here's what to watch and when.
Monthly Visual and Sound Checks
Once a month, watch and listen as the door opens and closes. Look for jerky movement, listen for grinding or scraping, and check that both sides lift evenly. Inspect the springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for obvious wear or fraying, and make sure the door closes fully and seals against the floor.
Test the Safety Features
Test the auto-reverse by placing a solid object such as a roll of paper towels in the door's path; a safe opener should reverse on contact. Test the photo-eye sensors by waving an object through the beam as the door closes. If either safety feature fails to reverse the door, stop using it and call a professional.
Lubrication and Hardware
A few times a year, lubricate the rollers, hinges, and springs with a proper garage door lubricant, and tighten any loose bolts and brackets. Balance testing, which involves disconnecting the opener and lifting the door by hand, is best left to a technician because it involves the high-tension spring system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Monthly Visual and Sound Checks?
Once a month, watch and listen as the door opens and closes. Look for jerky movement, listen for grinding or scraping, and check that both sides lift evenly. Inspect the springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for obvious wear or fraying, and make sure the door closes fully and seals against the floor.
Test the Safety Features?
Test the auto-reverse by placing a solid object such as a roll of paper towels in the door's path; a safe opener should reverse on contact. Test the photo-eye sensors by waving an object through the beam as the door closes. If either safety feature fails to reverse the door, stop using it and call a professional.
Lubrication and Hardware?
A few times a year, lubricate the rollers, hinges, and springs with a proper garage door lubricant, and tighten any loose bolts and brackets. Balance testing, which involves disconnecting the opener and lifting the door by hand, is best left to a technician because it involves the high-tension spring system.
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