If you own a house in Montgomery, IL, you probably create a checklist every spring to make sure everything in your home is in working order. This includes things like your HVAC system and your plumbing system, but you might forget to consider your garage door. To help make sure your garage door doesn’t leave you stuck when it gets hot outside, we created a checklist for you.
Check Door Balance
The balance of a garage door is a significant factor in how evenly a door will close in everyday operation. A good way to test the balance of your door is to open the garage door halfway. First, you’ll need to use the manual release rope, which detaches the door from the opener. Next, you’ll need to open the door manually. Once it’s at the halfway point, release it. If the door stays in place, it has the balance it needs to close correctly.
Doors without proper balancing won’t close properly. This causes problems with energy efficiency in cooling/warming systems, and poorly balanced doors place excess strain on the opener and the door’s motor system. This will shorten the lifespan of your garage door. If the door is not in balance, our team at BDK Door Company can fix the issue.
Lubricate All Moving Parts
Garage doors need consistent lubrication, especially if you use them every day. As a general rule, we suggest that you have your garage door lubricated at least once every six months. Spring is a good time to start, and you can repeat the process in the fall.
If you notice that your door has become noisy or is more difficult to open, most likely it’s time to lubricate. Conditions like more humid weather will also sap your lubricant, potentially calling for more frequent lubrication. In any case, having your garage door lubricated will reduce the friction of its moving parts. This, in turn, will help reduce wear and tear and extend the door’s lifespan.
At BDK Door Company, our team members use a lithium-based grease to lubricate any and all moving parts. Our crew knows that the most important to lubricate components are the ones that see the highest friction in day-to-day use. These include:
- Hinges
- Rollers
- Track
- Torsion springs
- Locking mechanism
- Top rail
- Arm bar
Clean Sensors
You can include your garage door in your spring cleaning practices, and one of the most important components to clean is the sensor. To perform a sensor cleaning, power down your garage door and use a damp, soft cloth to remove any accumulated dirt, dust, or debris. Remember, your cloth needs to be soft enough that it won’t scratch the lens on the sensor. You can also use a mild cleaning solution, but it’s critical that you always allow the sensor to dry before restoring power.
Inspect and Tighten Hardware
During winter, your garage door can experience a lot of usage. When you use your door a lot, your components will experience increased wear and tear. With a garage door, we want to discourage you from personally performing mechanical upkeep, as this can be dangerous. However, our team is well-trained in garage door safety, and we would be happy to check to make sure your hardware is up to par.
It’s normal for moving components to loosen over time, and if there’s damage, our team will address it and repair your door. If you’re noticing that your door seems to make more noise than usual or is slowing down, we can inspect and tighten any loose hardware.
we can inspect and tighten any loose hardware to ensure smooth operation. If you’re wondering “Is garage door repair covered by homeowners insurance?”, it depends on the cause of the damage. Most policies cover garage door repairs if the damage is due to theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
For reliable garage door repair in Elgin IL or in Hinsdale IL, our experienced technicians are ready to help restore your door to perfect working order.
Test Safety Features
Most garage doors have a feature that ensures the safety of anyone who ducks under the door as it’s shutting. This is an auto-reverse mechanism, and it’s important to make sure that the door automatically goes back up when something is in the path of the door while it’s closing. You can test this using an everyday object like a broom.
Schedule an Inspection Today
At BDK Door Company, we dedicate our time to making sure that garage doors in the Montgomery area are in good condition. For over 40 years, we have provided installation and maintenance for garage doors in need.
If it is not balanced, or your garage door needs other repairs, call BDK Door Company today to schedule an appointment.
