Overhead Door Company of Oklahoma CityServing:   Oklahoma City, OK    Edmond, OK    Norman, OK    Yukon, OK     Midwest City, OK

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Here’s Why Garage Door Maintenance Should Be on Your Springtime Honey-Do List

It’s official: Spring is here. And that means you’ve probably got a list of chores that need tending to — things like gutter cleaning, touching up exterior paint, raking — well, you’ve got the idea. Warm weather is the perfect time for getting your home in shape, especially after the long months of cold winter weather spent huddling and cuddling indoors. But before you start checking items off that honey-do list, there’s one more item you should add to make sure your home is in good shape: garage door maintenance. It’s easy to forget about your garage door when it’s operating the way it’s supposed to; but when something goes wrong, it can wind up damaging your car or even a person, not to mention make your life a lot less convenient. Not sure where to start? Use this checklist for guidance.

Garage Door Maintenance Checklist

1. Visual inspection

Use your eyes (and ears) to look and listen for problems — unusual sounds or vibrations, “stickiness” or “skipping” during operation, and other problems while opening and closing the door, and check for gaps and unevenness when the door is in the fully opened and closed positions.

2. Tighten the hardware

Garage door hardware is sturdy, but after hundreds of openings, it can get a little loose. Grab a socket set, wrench and screwdrivers and gently tighten the bolts and screws that keep everything working smoothly.

3. Test the balance

Pull the release handle on your door to disengage the carriage and allow your door to be raised and lowered manually. Now raise it part way up and let go. A door that’s properly balanced will stay in place. If it slips down or just won’t stay open when you let go, you need to have the door professionally re-balanced to ensure smooth operation and avoid serious malfunction.

4. Test the safety reversal feature

Open the garage door part way and place a brick in the opening. Now close the door. When the door touches the brick, it should immediately reverse itself. If it doesn’t, the safety reversal feature must be repaired by a professional.

5. Inspect the rollers and the track

Make sure the tracks are clear of debris and the rollers are smooth and cylindrical, with no “flat” spots or cracks.

6. Lubricate for smooth operation

Use a spray lubricant for the springs and grease for the chain or screw that opens and closes the door.

7. Don’t mess with the cables

Yes, you can adjust them yourself, but even a small error can damage your door and cause dangerous accidents. Adjusting loose or “sticky” cables is a job best left to the pros.

8. Clean the door and check for damage

Wash with a gentle cleanser then rinse well. Look for chipped paint, warpage, damaged areas, or rust spots (on steel doors). Check the weather stripping on the bottom edge as well.

Regular garage door maintenance keeps your door working the way it’s supposed to, which makes it a worthwhile addition to your springtime checklist. All it takes is an hour or two of time this spring to avoid major problems for the rest of the year. Contact us today for assistance.

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Kristen Mangum
Kristen Mangum
2022-12-21
Friendly customer service. Bought a hard to find remote for an old garage door opener. Opener has 3 buttons so I can program both doors to it. Easy to find location right off 29th St.
Robert Ballinger
Robert Ballinger
2022-12-12
Great people
Betsy Chronister
Betsy Chronister
2022-09-13
I was given a very fair quote. A week later a tech came and installed. Then came back to install lock. Tech was very professional and polite. Spen time with me making adjustments to my liking. I totally recommend Overhead door to my fellow Okies.
Hendrix Morrow
Hendrix Morrow
2022-06-29
Overhead Door did a great job. They got me on the schedule the next day and fixed my spring in 30 minutes or less. Joe was great, professional, and courteous. Awesome service, and he didn't tell me I needed extra materials like the previous garage door people that quoted me $575. Overhead Door told me a price over the phone and it didn't change. I'd recommend them every time.
Sandy Molleda Molleda
Sandy Molleda Molleda
2022-03-22
A very good place for a new garage door and a new remote.
John Ehrhardt
John Ehrhardt
2022-01-28
Pleased with their services. Coil spring broke and door stopped working. Spoke to Ron, and less than 24 hrs later the technician had us up n running again. These guys did exactly what they promised to do, with no nonsense. I like that.

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