Too often, you don’t pay attention to their garage door or opener until something happens. And it usually happens at the most inopportune time. Like me. Here i’m in the industry and the last time I check on my doors, well it’s embarassing to say how long it’s been. Do what I say and not what I do. Your garage doors should be checked annually to ensure proper operation and replacement of any worn parts.
Here’s what to look for.
1) Always test your door by hand. If you have a garage-door opener, disconnect it from the door by pulling down on the release rope. Run the door up and down, making sure that it is balanced properly (not too heavy to lift or to hard to pull down) and running smoothly with no binding on the door jamb or rollers binding in the track.
2) Check that all hinges and door hardware is securely attached to the door and there are no loose fasteners.
3) Lubricate all hinge points, bushings and roller axles using silicone spray lubricant.
4) Reattach the opener to the door and check the open and close travel limits as well as the function of the safety reversing systems built into your opener.
5) Inspect the inside and outside of your door, verifying the integrity of the paint finish; touch up or repaint as required. Wood doors need to be painted or stained on the inside as well as the exterior to ensure no dampness gets into the wood fibers causing the door to warp.
Temperature extremes (hot and cold) can cause door tracks to expand and contract, which can hinder smooth operation.
Garage-door springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury. Spring adjustments and repairs should only be performed by a trained garage-door service technician.
The Garage Door Weblog 