DIY Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Look and Listen:

• An essential step is to observe your garage door in action every time you use it. Does it operate silently, or does it grind or scrape?

Tighten up the Hardware:

• Examine and tighten all roller brackets and bolts with a socket wrench.

Door Balance:

• Periodically test your door’s balance.
• Begin with the door closed.
• If you have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism to operate the door by hand when doing this test.
• You should be able to lift the door smoothly, with little resistance. It should also stay open around three or four feet above the floor. If it does not, it needs adjustment. Have a qualified service professional adjust it!

Reversal Test:

• Check that your opener has a reversing feature; if it does not, replace it.
• Federal law requires garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993, to have safety features that comply with the latest UL (Underwriters Laboratories) 325 standards. Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information.

Inspect and Replace the Rollers:

• The rollers, whether steel or nylon, need to be checked twice a year and replaced every seven years or so, and even more often if you use your garage door many times a day.
• Replace worn, chipped, or cracked rollers as soon as possible. Do this by removing and reinstalling any roller brackets not directly attached to the cable system.

Replace the Weatherstripping:

• Check the weatherstripping at the bottom of the door. If it is cracked or broken, replace it.
• Lubricate the Moving Parts:
• Lubricate all moving parts and coat torsion springs with regular-grade machine oil.

Check the Cables:

• Check for broken strands and damage near the bottom roller bracket.
• Test the Auto-Reverse Safety Features:
• There are two mechanisms: mechanical and photocell.
• Place an object on the ground in the door’s path to test the mechanical feature. When the door is coming down, it should touch that object, reverse direction, and go back up again.
• To test the photoelectric system with beams on each side, close your door and pass your leg in the door’s path. Your door should reverse.
• If your opener lacks these essential safety features, it’s time to buy a new garage door opener.

Clear the Tracks:

• Clean the inside of the tracks with an old toothbrush to dislodge any buildup of grease, grime, or dirt. Spray disc brake cleaner into the tracks, then wipe them clean with a rag to remove debris.
• Only a professional Garage Door Technician should make any significant adjustments to the garage door tracks.

Groom Your Garage Door:

• Remember to examine the door itself. Check wood doors for water damage and warping, as well as chipped and peeling paint. Steel doors may have rust spots that require sanding, priming, and painting. Rust is a significant enemy of any garage door. Yearly maintenance can help keep it away.

Periodic Cleaning:

• Wash your door with a mild detergent; do not use abrasive cleaners. Check for scratches that need repairing. If the bare metal is exposed, treat it with zinc-based primer. Avoid excessive touch-ups; paint applied after installation will not match the original factory finish.
• You rely on your garage door to operate smoothly and efficiently day in and day out. A system failure can be a significant inconvenience, resulting in property damage or personal injury. We provide expert Garage Door Maintenance and Repair Service in the Albuquerque Region at affordable prices.

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