Save your future self some money by regularly cleaning your garage door.
Garage doors are made of many moving parts. Springs, rollers, and most of the hardware are made of metal. Metal can shrink/expand depending upon the weather. It can get dusty/dirty and eventually impede operation of the door. This is why it’s important to clean your garage door parts twice a year and to have them inspected by an experienced and trained technician annually.
The torsion springs are under a lot of pressure. If you suspect something is wrong with your springs, or cables do not attempt to repair, or replace them. Without the proper knowledge and expertise many a homeowner has been seriously injured trying to mess with their springs. Professional technicians have the right tools and the experience to adjust, repair and replace torsion springs, or door cables.
But you can perform cleaning maintenance on your door. One of the easiest things you can do is to lubricate the metal and moving parts every three years. However, make sure you purchase a light spray lubricant formulated for garage doors. Using the wrong kind of lubricate can over-lubricate your door parts. You should lubricate your hinges, springs, rollers and tracks every three months. However, the rail only needs to be lubricated once a year. Proper lubrication will quiet the overall door operation when opening/closing your door. However, over lubrication, or under lubrication can contribute to alignment problems.
Your garage door opener does most of the work, but your door springs actually shoulder the heaviest part of the operation. For example, if your garage door weighs 250lbs., your torsion springs need to exert a force of 250lbs., to make the door open and close. Torsion springs are under more pressure than any other part of your garage door. Your torsion springs counterbalance the weight of the door and if they are broken/damaged your motor won’t be able to adjust for the difference and open your door.
Most garage doors have two torsion springs that are located in the center of the door about one foot above the top section, but depending on the make and model of your door, it could have only one torsion spring. If you have a single spring door, you might want to consider adding a second spring. This will help if the first set breaks, or malfunctions.
If your garage door won’t open, but the pulleys and belts/chain all seem to be functioning and the motor runs, your torsion springs are probably to blame. If your door squeaks, clangs, or jerks (isn’t smooth) after lubricating the components call a garage door professional. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE SPRINGS, OR OPEN THE DOOR BY YOURSELF as you could risk serious injury.
Access Garage Door offers professional garage door service, repair and installation in the Upstate. Call us today to help you with your garage door problems.