1. How to Maintain
Garage Doors
Published by : http://www.steel-line.com.au/residential-garage-doors/

2. You can easily keep your garage doors looking and working like new if you take the time to
learn a little bit about garage door maintenance. Because of the size and weight of the door, it
can be very dangerous if upkeep is not performed at least once a year. Avoid both property
damage and personal injury by informing yourself with the basics of garage door maintenance.
Use the following advice as a basic checklist for routine garage door maintenance. If something
seems like it is confusing or difficult, then it may be a good idea to call a certified garage tech.
Inspect for Wear & Tear
Garage doors use many small
components including springs,
rollers, cables, handles, and more.
These small pieces of hardware are
always the first things to degrade.
The first step of any annual garage
door maintenance is to inspect the
door for worn down or broken parts. Any parts that need replacement should be taken care of
immediately. Most minor repairs, such as roller or handle replacement, can be done by just
about anyone.
Certain repairs may need to be completed by a professional. Certain parts, such as springs, can
be under high tension and cause physical injury if handled incorrectly. It is for this reason that a
certified garage door repair person is hired to handle anything that might be dangerous for the
homeowner to complete on their own.
Check Cables for Damage
Most modern garage doors use steel cable to raise and lower the door. If you happen to notice
that these cables are frayed, worn, or damaged in anyway, then it is time to have them
replaced. The repair itself is pretty easy, however; the steel cables are kept under high tension
and should only be removed and replaced by a trained professional. No one wants to be injured
during a routine maintenance of their garage door!
Tighten All Nuts & Bolts
Take a quick minute to examine the nuts and bolts holding the garage door track to the roof of
the garage. These pieces of hardware should be nice and tight at all times. An unsecure track
could result in the door falling on you or your car when it is raised. Completing a quick once-
over is an easy way to save yourself from a big headache.

3. Lubricate Sticking Parts
The moving parts on any garage door will need to be lubricated from time to time. A simple
spray lubricant is perfect for this type of job. Here are a few garage door parts that may need to
be lubricated during your next routine maintenance:
 Rollers: Garage door hinges and rollers will most likely need the most lubricant to stay
operational. Apply some lube to the hinge that attaches the roller, and to the roller
itself. These are usually found on both sides of the door between two panel sections.
Try not to apply too much lubricant, as it will attract dust that can make the problem
worse.
 Hinges: Apply some lubricant to any remaining hinges that are not connected to a roller.
These will usually be found in the center of the door. Once the lubricant is applied, make
sure to open and close the door several times to distribute the lube evenly across the
hinge.
 Locking Mechanisms: If the garage door has a locking mechanism, it is a good idea to
lubricate this as well. Keyholes can often collect dirt over time and eventually make it
impossible to open the garage door. Use some lubricant spray on the keyhole. Turn the
key several times to distribute the lube inside the mechanism easily.
The garage door owner’s manual may have other lubrication instructions in addition to those
listed here. Make sure that you refer to this manual to ensure your garage door is receiving
proper lubrication.
Inspect Spring Systems
The spring system on the garage door is what keeps everything operational. Without these
springs, it would be virtually impossible to keep the door open. Garage door springs should be
rust free at all times. Rusty springs will eventually break, which could potentially cause an injury
to someone nearby. Here are a few types of springs that are common to most garage doors:
 Extension Spring Systems: This type of spring system is pretty old and can be dangerous
to the uninformed. Its springs run next to the horizontal garage door track by way of a
pulley system. The springs themselves are loose when the door is up and are at
maximum tension when the door is closed. It is imperative that a cable runs through the
center of these springs and is secured at both ends. This will ensure that the spring
doesn’t become a deadly projectile if it happens to snap. If the extension spring system
is missing the safety cable, then it may be a good idea to call a professional as soon as
possible.

4.  Contained Spring Systems: These systems actually have the spring contained in a tube.
Contained systems rarely need any kind of maintenance. However, a trained
professional should be hired if the springs ever need to be replaced.
 Torsion Spring Systems: The torsion spring system is the most common today. Typically,
a torsion spring system will feature springs attached to a bar above the door or behind
the track. This type of spring system operates with a pulley mechanism that is attached
to a shaft. They don’t require much maintenance besides some WD-40 a few times a
year.
Garage Door Rebalancing
It’s a good idea to rebalance the garage door to ensure the weight is distributed evenly across
the springs. When the door is closed, simply pull the emergency release handle. From there, the
garage door should be pulled up to about waist height. If the door does not stay up on its own,
then the springs will need to have tension added to them. On the other hand, if the door flies
up quickly, then the springs will need some tension released.
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