This page contains some great advice for garage door owners. Our technicians compiled this list of tips, drawn from their own experiences, to help you keep your system in the best possible shape.
Test the safety sensors regularly
These are the photo eyes that your opener uses in order to keep your garage door from hitting a person or an object when they get in its path. You can test the sensors by opening your garage door and then using the remote to close it. While the panels are traveling down, wave a broomstick in front of the sensors (they're usually located at the bottom of the vertical tracks). If your door doesn't reverse its movement when you do this, the sensors need to either be replaced or realigned.
Get an insulated garage door
Whether you live in warm or cold climates, a garage door with insulated panels can be extremely beneficial. Not only will it help to prevent heat transfer, it will also improve your home's HVAC unit's ability to maintain the indoor air temperature you desire. This will reduce the wear and lower the energy footprint of your home, which will save you money every month.
Know which components you should avoid lubricating
In general, lubrication is beneficial to your garage door system but there are parts you should definitely avoid spraying lubricant on. For example, the bottom part of the door’s chain rail or the chain itself in a chain drive garage door opener. You also want to avoid spraying the track or any parts made of plastic or nylon. If in doubt, the best thing to do is to consult your owner's manual or give us a call to clarify.
Plan a regular maintenance schedule
The secret to keeping your garage door in good working condition for a long time is a regular, planned maintenance schedule. For example, regular lubrication will help to keep the moving parts working smoothly and prevent the onset of rust.
Don't attempt to fix a broken cable
If you find your garage door hanging on one side, this is likely down to a broken garage door cable. Don't attempt to fix this on your own, as doing so could be dangerous.