Keeping the moving parts of your garage door lubricated on a regular basis can prevent wear and tear. You can use a lithium-based grease or garage door specific lubricant to apply a light coat to springs, rollers and hinges.
Metal doors are prone to rust, so it’s important to perform routine maintenance to avoid expensive repairs. An annual inspection can catch simple issues before they turn into major problems. For professional help, contact Garage Door Repair OKC.
A garage door’s springs offset the weight of the door and allow it to open and close easily, either manually or with an automatic opener. But like any household item, these high-tension steel springs have a lifespan and will eventually wear out and need to be replaced.
It’s best for a homeowner to let a professional handle this repair since working with springs under such tension is dangerous. However, if a homeowner does decide to tackle the job themselves, they should disconnect the power from the motor and clamp the track to keep it secure as they work. They should also remove the old springs and purchase new ones that are a similar size to replace them. When choosing new springs, they should look for a color painted on them that indicates the load they are designed to support. It’s also a good idea to buy double-life springs, which last longer than standard ones. When reinstalling the new springs, a homeowner should be sure to attach them evenly so that one side of the door isn’t doing more work than the other.
Once the springs are installed, a homeowner should test their effectiveness by lifting the garage door about 3 feet. If it stays in place without falling, the replacement was successful. If it falls, then the spring tension isn’t properly set and it will need to be adjusted.
Most homeowners who have broken springs will also need to replace the cables, which work closely with the springs to raise and shut the door. A common sign that these cables need replacing is a door that is uneven when opening and closing, whines when it moves, or comes off the track completely. A trained technician can replace both the springs and the cables simultaneously to ensure a smooth, safe operation of the garage door. They will also perform a free safety inspection of the other mechanical parts of the door to ensure they meet current safety standards. This is an important step in keeping your family, pets, and property safe from potential harm.
Misaligned tracks
Misaligned tracks are a common cause of garage door issues. If left unaddressed, these problems can quickly lead to additional damage and inconvenient malfunctions. The best way to prevent misalignment is to regularly inspect your track system and take action when you notice signs of wear and tear.
Visual inspections of your garage door and its tracks are crucial for identifying misalignment issues. Visible gaps between the tracks and rollers are a clear sign that the alignment is off, as is noisy operation. Once you have identified the issue, it’s time to fix it.
Fortunately, fixing misaligned tracks is a relatively simple process. First, locate the track bolts that secure the track to the lower brackets on the wall and ceiling. Loosen the bolts slightly and use a rubber mallet to tap the track back into place. Once you’ve positioned the track, tighten the screws and use a level to check that it sits straight. Once you’ve done this, repeat the process with the other track.
In some cases, the tracks may be knocked out of alignment due to a large object like a car or an improperly secured ladder. In these instances, a professional may be required to replace the damaged parts and align the tracks properly.
If you’re not confident in your ability to repair a misaligned track, it’s always a good idea to call in a professional. They’ll be able to conduct a thorough inspection and make the necessary repairs to ensure your garage door operates smoothly.
In addition to reducing the risk of injuries, misaligned tracks can also leave your home vulnerable to unauthorized entry. This is because they can create gaps or uneven seals that would be easy for attackers to exploit. By performing regular maintenance on your track system and addressing any issues promptly, you can reduce the risk of unauthorized access and extend the life of your garage door.
Damaged weather stripping
Weather stripping and bottom seals are crucial for keeping your garage door in good condition. They protect the door from moisture and help keep cold air out during winter and warm air in during summer. Eventually, however, they can become worn out or damaged. When this happens, you will need to replace them. The good news is that replacing your weather stripping can be a simple and inexpensive home repair.
Before beginning any repairs, it is a good idea to perform a visual inspection of the entire door. Look for gaps where cold air can enter and warm air escapes. You should also check for any areas that are brittle, cracked, or loose. These are signs that your weather stripping needs to be replaced.
Once you have completed your inspection, you will need to remove the old weather stripping. This can be done using a utility knife or razor blade. Then, you should carefully remove any attaching screws holding the old weather stripping in place if there are any. Once the weather stripping is removed, you can start to install the new one. Typically, the new weather stripping will come with adhesive caulking material that can be used to attach it to your door frame. You will need to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when installing it.
Keeping your garage door’s weather stripping in good shape is easy with regular maintenance. You should regularly clean and lubricate it with an all-purpose vinyl cleaner and silicone-based lubricant. Avoid using lubricants made of petroleum as these can damage the vinyl components. Additionally, you should inspect the perimeter weather stripping regularly for cracks or gaps that need to be repaired.
In addition to protecting the door against air leaks, a good seal also keeps pests out of the garage and reduces noise. Rodents and other small animals are adept at squeezing into tiny spaces, and they can make their way inside a garage where the weather stripping has been damaged or is missing. Replacing the weather stripping is a great way to prevent this from happening and can save you money on energy costs.
Broken opener
If the door opens and closes using the remote or wall switch, but it refuses to move when you push a button on the opener itself, the problem is most likely due to a lack of power. Try replacing the batteries in the garage door remote or the power backup battery in the opener. If that doesn’t fix the problem, a wire connection at the opener may have become disconnected or a fuse has blown. Check to see if the opener is plugged in to an outlet with working power, and replace the fuse if necessary.
If your garage door jerks when opening or closing, this is often caused by misaligned or obstructed safety sensors. The sensors should not be covered with dirt or debris, and they must be able to easily see each other through direct sunlight. In most cases, adjusting the sensors’ travel limit settings and cleaning the sensor lenses will solve the problem.
Your garage door can also have a problem if it stops in the middle of the way up or down, and it won’t open or close again until you manually disconnect and disengage the emergency release cord. This process varies by installation, so consult your owner’s manual for instructions.
The most serious problems with garage doors can involve the garage door springs or the cables and tracks. These issues require specialized tools and training to resolve safely, so they should be handled only by trained service professionals. In particular, snapped cables or jammed pulleys are a safety hazard that should be addressed only by a professional service technician with the proper equipment and expertise to handle these problems.
Many modern garage door openers communicate with the opener’s control panel and provide error codes that indicate which component in the system is faulty. These codes can help troubleshoot the problem and make a repair more quickly. If the garage door opener produces an error code that you cannot determine, it is best to call a service technician right away. They will be able to inspect the motor and track assembly for more serious problems, and they can perform any repairs that are safe to complete.