Is it time for your annual garage door inspection? Do you know what you’re supposed to look for? Inspecting your garage door at least once per year can help you catch maintenance problems before they become serious.
Why Do I Need to Inspect My Garage Door?
You may not think about it as often as other parts of your home, but a garage door is often the largest moving part in your home and is used at least twice a day.
When you pair this with the fact that garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds and are under a high amount of tension from their springs, garage doors are prone to wear and tear and can create safety hazards inside your home.
Made up of different components that each have a specific purpose, maintaining your garage door is something homeowners should do 1 – 2 times per year to keep their home in safe and working order.
Use this Garage Door Maintenance Checklist as a Guide
But how do you know what and where to look during your garage door inspection? What are the most common signs of wear in your garage door? How do you cover everything to ensure that your garage door works properly?
Garage doors and garage door openers can develop issues in a variety of ways. Knowing what to look for can help make your garage door inspection more effective. It also makes it easier to get help from a garage door repair person when it’s needed.
Use these tips as a checklist for your next garage door safety inspection and regular preventative maintenance.
Loud Noises
Open and close your garage door. Listen to the noises your garage door makes. If you feel this noise has gotten louder over time, this could be a sign that the mechanical parts of your garage door are starting to wear down.
Garage doors should be somewhat quiet, especially if your garage door opener is a belt-drive device. Contact a garage door repair person about any concerning noises you hear.
Check the Photo Eyes
Wave a broomstick in the path of your closing garage door, between the photoelectric eyes at the bottom of the door. The door should reverse course when the stick comes between the two eyes on either side of the garage door.
If the door does not reverse course, clean your photoelectric eyes, and try again. If the door still does not reverse course, get help from a pro.
Try one more test: lay a 2×4 in the middle of the garage doorway, then close the door on the 2×4. If the door comes to rest on the 2×4 and does not reverse course, consult with a repair person.
Inspect Your Weather Stripping
As the barrier between the elements and your garage door’s components and garage interior, your garage door weather stripping is often the part that requires the most regular maintenance.
For example, tears and holes in your weather stripping can increase the humidity in your garage – causing rust to build up on your extension springs. A failing garage door spring can create serious health hazards and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Corrosion or Rust
Corrosion and rust usually occur in high-moisture environments. If corrosion or rust is found on your garage door or on the garage door opener, this could be a sign that your garage has a leak.
Corrosion and rust can cause your garage door opener to become jerky or stiff, which could in time affect the functioning of your garage door.
A rusty garage door may continue to function, but it won’t look good. Have your garage inspected for leaks, and get them repaired if leaks are a problem.
As the heaviest and largest moving part in your home, regular inspections and maintenance of your garage door is crucial in preventing any potential health hazards in your home.Sagging Garage Door Spring
Take a look at the torsion spring over your garage door. Is it sagging in the middle, or warped in any way? This is a sign of a serious problem. Have your spring inspected by a professional as soon as possible.
Grit in the Tracks
While the door is closed, feel along the garage door tracks. Do you feel grit there? Use a toothbrush to clean the grit, then wipe down the tracks with a microfiber cloth.
Loose Nuts and Bolts
Inspect the nuts and bolts that hold your garage door together. If any of the nuts, bolts, and screws are loose, use a screwdriver or a wrench to tighten them once again.
Need Garage Door Service or a Garage Safety Inspection? Contact Us
If you’ve identified a problem with your garage door, contact Overhead Door of Oklahoma City to get repair soon! If you’re not in the habit of inspecting your own garage door, contact us and we’ll inspect it for you. Together, we can keep your garage door and garage door opener in good condition.
