A garage door like any other large, mechanical, moving object will need periodic maintenance to keep it running smoothly. Generally most garage doors require a thorough service about every three years, however, it can fluctuate depending on how often the garage door is used. If your garage door is used as your primary entry-exit point in your home it is essential to have your garage door serviced and inspected regularly, especially if younger children are using the garage as a play area or constantly opening and closing the door.
A garage door in the simplest sense is a large counterbalance system. The spring counterbalance system is really the heart beat of the entire operation and it is important to understand the function of it.
All home garage doors have springs which provide lift and counter-balance the weight of the garage door. There are mainly three types of spring systems on the market, each has a specific application.
Extension springs are mounted at the rear of the track and extend in length [stretch out] as the door is lowered toward the ground. These are generally the most common spring systems on home garage doors.
A torsion spring system is usually located directly above the top section of a garage door. These springs are much safer than extension springs since when they break they can only move horizontally along the spring shaft and not fire out across your garage. However due to the headroom required these do not always fit every installation.
The third style spring, used on vertical rolling garage doors [the type you might see at a mall or industrial facility] is a modified version of a torsion spring system however it is completely enclosed inside a steel tube.
Garage doors have many moving parts and need to be lubricated often in order to work smoothly. We recommend WD-40 which can be found in any hardware/home improvement store. A light coat of oil on the hardware; tracks, rollers, hinges, and pulleys will prolong the life of the door components and keep your door much quieter. In the north east it is best to lubricate just before winter and in the early spring. Garage doors in the north east are used more during the winter than any other time throughout the year.
When you are lubricating the door it is a good idea to check the natural balance of the door. By releasing the door from the door opener [pull the red handle] and operating the door manually it is easy to see how well or poorly the door balances. If the door seems to be really heavy, a spring adjustment or replacement might be in the near future. It is much cheaper to replace springs before they break and cause damage to your vehicles, property in the garage, pets and family members!
Generally the weight of the door that you should feel in your hand while operating the door manually is between 10 and 40Lbs. A properly balanced garage door should almost require no effort to open and close the garage door manually. This will also prolong the life of the garage door opener. In closing, stay away from lithium grease because it causes dirt and debris to stick to it and it is VERY messy to clean up after it drips on your car, clothes or pets!
Mike Donovan
miked@worcesterdoor.com
