Making your garage door safe

Garage doors are more than just a way to park your car; homeowners frequently use garage doors as a main entrance, and no one ever expects their garage door opener to have a problem. However, the garage door is a large, moving part that can and does break down occasionally. Have you checked your garage door and the exterior keypad recently to be sure that it was safe from break-ins or malfunctions?

If you follow these steps for garage door maintenance at least twice per year, you’ll be able to keep your home safe and use your garage door reliably for years to come.

Inspection

The first step to maintaining your garage door is to perform a visual inspection of the garage door and its tracks. Stand inside your garage, and look at each of the horizontal tracks that rise up from the wall onto the ceiling. Be sure that they are parallel, and that there is no tilting or leaning towards or away from each other. You should also inspect the bolts, screws, and hinges that keep the tracks in place, and attach the door to the tracks. If there are any that aren’t firmly attached, or appear to be corroded, they should be tightened or replaced. Finally, look at the rollers that allow the garage door to move in the tracks. They should move in a rolling motion, not a sliding motion, and should be in good condition.

Check the spring system

The spring system is the counterweight that keeps your garage door balanced. In order to check the spring system, you’ll first have to deactivate the door opener with the following step:

• Pull the emergency release cord, which is usually red. That will disconnect the garage door from the door opener.
• Using the lift handle that is near the bottom of the door, raise the door. A properly balanced garage door weighs around 10 pounds, so it should offer some resistance. However, if the door seems too heavy to lift, it’s likely due to a malfunctioning or faulty spring system.
• Don’t forget that your door opener just replaces human strength. Some garage door openers (e.g. ¾ HP) can lift a weight up to 250 pounds; however, they can also push that same weight down, which can put you, or anyone helping you, at risk.

Spring systems should only be replaced by a professional, because an improperly installed system can lead to a dangerous situation. If you suspect that your spring system needs to be replaced, give us a call right away.

Check the safety systems

All garage doors manufactured after 1986 have two safety systems built in. These are the mechanical and photoelectric systems, and they are important to check regularly. After reconnecting the door with the opener, open the door using the remote. To test your mechanical safety system, follow these steps:

• Place a solid object, such as a piece of wood, on the threshold so that it falls in the path of the door.
• Close the door using your remote.
• When the door hits the object, it should automatically begin reversing its direction. If it does not, you may need to adjust the button that controls the door’s descent. This button is found on the motor housing, and should have an arrow pointing down.

To check the photoelectric system, follow these steps:

• Standing near the open garage door, close the door using your remote.
• There are two small box units on either side of the garage opening, which should be no more than six inches from the ground. As the door is closing, pass one of your feet in front of one of the units, being sure to move your foot out of the way again immediately.
• The door should begin immediately reversing direction when your foot passes in front of the unit. If your door is not operational at all, there may be something misaligned, or a bad wire within one of these units.

Be sure to lubricate

Your garage door has several parts that may need to be lubricated to keep them running properly. If your door has a chain drive opener, the chain may require a petroleum‑based oil application twice a year. You may also need to apply some white grease or oil lubricant on the gear and sprocket assembly of the motor. Be sure that you follow the same procedure, wiping off any excess lubricant, with the sprocket on the other end of the trolley.

If your drive opener uses a metal-reinforced rubber belt, rather than a chain, you probably don’t need to lubricate it. These systems are lubricated well enough during installation that they are maintained for many years.

Safety warnings for your garage door opener

In addition to performing basic yearly maintenance on your garage door, there are a few things that you should know about your door opener that can keep your garage door working properly. The first is to be sure that only adults use the garage door opener. Children should only use these devices while under supervision, and only as a way to learn how they work for emergencies. Never let your child play with the garage door opener, or the control panel that is located inside the garage or in the house.

Most of the accidents that involve garage doors include a person attempting to close the door with the panel, and then rushing to make it out of the garage before the door closes. This is an unsafe practice, and should always be avoided. Your children should always be taught to be away from the garage when the door is moving.

Finally, many people today use the four-digit access code on their garage door as a way for their children to get in and out of the home after school. This ensures that their child can’t lose a key to your home, and makes it easier for everyone to get out the door on time in the mornings. However, it is very important to teach your child to never give out the access code, even when their friends are stopping by to hang out.

Keep in mind this basic rule: it’s better to be safe than sorry. We invite you to watch this video explaining the basic garage door opener safety rules to respect. Also, visit the garage door industry web site: www.garagedoorcare.com.

Any time you need a replacement garage door opener and accessories, or simply an annual maintenance check-up for your existing garage door, you can can click here to get a free quote, or click here to start by building your perfect garage door! You can also call us at 724-834-8450.