Garage Door is one of the most used yet oft ignored doors in the house. It is one of those things that remain invisible until they fail to function properly. When this happens, there is a big opening in the side of the house that is a huge risk to the life and property.
To avoid garage door failures, it is important that the homeowner regularly carry out checks on the garage door and related mechanism. This way any issues in the workings of the garage door could be easily caught and rectified.
Problems arise when homeowners ignore garage door maintenance because things seem to work in the right order and more pressing issues relegate the monthly inspection and maintenance to backburner. The great things about the monthly inspection are that it could be carried out over a weekend. It is usually over in a few hours. The savings in time and money is well worth the few hours spent in the inspection.
One of the first things to do when starting the inspection routine is to notify everyone that you would be busy in the garage. This means that nobody should operate the garage door, either mechanically or electronically through the remote.
The first stage of the inspection is the visual inspection of the door and mechanism. The process should start with you standing in the garage with the door down all the way down. This way, you will be able to see all the hardware of the operating mechanism. Look at everything very carefully. Overtime, the cables and wires operating the doors become loose or frayed. This is a sure sign that these components will fail. Similarly, all pulleys, springs and ties should be inspected to make sure that they are in place and locked into position.
Next part of the inspection is the Balance Test that checks whether the door is properly aligned. The test starts with the door completely close. Disconnect the automatic door opener. Now you should be able to lift the door up. If the door is stuck anywhere or does not remain open, there is something wrong with the alignment of the door.
The third stage of the inspection is about the electronic eye, the sensor that operates the door automatically. Open the door all the way. Click the close button on the transmitter. As the door closes, use a broomstick or a 4x4 to block the sensor. The door should immediately reverse. If not, make sure that the door is close and then clean the sensors with a soft cloth. Repeat the test once again. If the problem persists, make a note of it for the technicians.
One you have noted the problems, it is time for lubrication. Use a silicon based lubricant for the job. Make sure that all the moving parts have a light layer of lubricant. This will make sure that the mechanism remains functional. Contact a qualified firm for servicing the garage door. The list that you made during the inspection should come in handy for identifying and repairing the issues.
