Picture this, you are about to park your car in your garage and hear a grinding noise coming from the engine. Instinctively, you might think ‘the motor is acting up again, let’s take a closer look.’ At Roos Garage Doors, we cannot emphasise enough how important it is to regularly maintain your garage door to not only extend its lifespan, but to also ensure it runs smoothly.
However, not every repair can be chalked up as a DIY project for the weekend. Knowing which garage door components can be safely fixed and which parts require a professional to look over, is essential to prevent costly damage and more importantly, keeps you and your family safe.
Parts you Can Maintain
Familiarising yourself with your garage and common components can go a long way for maintaining and keeping your garage door in working order.
Hardware and Fasteners
Over time, the hardware and fasteners can loosen through everyday usage. Regularly checking loose visible bolts, nuts and screws and tightening them, a socket wrench will do the job just fine, can help keep your garage door secure.
Hinges and Rollers
Wear and tear is a reality that all garage door owners face, from rusting hinges and rollers to components that gradually become worn through everyday usage. Keeping these parts clean and well-maintained can keep your garage door running smoothly. Applying a silicone-based spray lubricant to the hinges and rollers once a year helps minimise noise and keeps the door moving smoothly.
Tracks
Dust, dirt and fallen leaves can gradually build up in your garage door tracks. A wipe down with a cloth is a quick and easy solution to unclog the tracks and allows the roller to run smoothly. Avoid attempting to bend or realign the tracks yourself as it can potentially hinder the door’s operation.
Safety Sensors
If your garage door is fitted with safety sensors, you can gently clean the lenses from time to time to remove excess dust or dirt, keeping the sensors accurate. Also make sure that the sensors are correctly aligned to ensure the safety features work as intended.
If you notice anything that doesn’t look quite right, it’s worth having a technician take a look. Catching a small problem early can often prevent a more expensive repair later on.
Repairs for the Professionals
Some maintenance tasks are perfectly safe, and we encourage all homeowners to regularly maintain their garage door. There are, however, certain components that should not be repaired or adjusted without proper training and equipment.
Torsion and Extension Springs
Any component that uses extreme tension should be avoided completely. The mishandling of torsion and extension springs can cause serious injury and should only ever be adjusted or replaced by a qualified technician.
Bottom Brackets
The same applies to bottom brackets. Bottom brackets connect directly to the lifting cables and spring system. If they need repairing or replacing, it’s far safer to leave the job to a professional.
When It’s Time to Call a Professional
Knowing which garage door maintenance tasks you can safely handle yourself, and which repairs are best left to a professional, is one of the simplest ways to keep your garage door operating reliably for years to come. If you’re ever unsure about what’s causing a problem, it’s always worth having a qualified technician take a look. Using the right tools for the job will keep your garage door operating, help avoid unnecessary repairs in the future, and above all else, keep you and your family safe.
Contact Roos Garage Doors for all your garage door needs. Whether you need routine maintenance, a professional repair or a brand-new garage door installation, our team is here to help.