Preventative Steel Garage Door Repair Tips

Your steel garage door is likely the biggest moving part of your entire house. When the door isn’t functioning properly, you’ll need to call a professional to fix the issue as soon as possible. However, there are a few preventative measures you can take to make minor improvements on your garage door and keep the door working well. After all, you’ll likely use the garage door several times each day, and you need the door to function properly during all seasons of the year. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you want to keep your garage door in working order.

One of the first things you need to do is look and listen. When you pay attention to any noises the door is making or how fast it’s going up or down, you’ll know if the garage door needs to be repaired. If the door is moving slowly or pausing when you try to open or close it, check to ensure the garage door is on track. You may have to lubricate the track or steel rods of the garage door if it squeaks while you try to operate it. Take a look at all the pulleys, springs and cables to ensure they are symmetrical and address these issues right away to keep the door from sustaining any more damage.

You can also save time and money on steel garage door repairs by tightening the hardware. On average, your garage door will likely move up and down over a thousand times in a year, so it’s not uncommon for the door to get stuck sometimes. The hardware can become less secure due to excessive use, so check and tighten all the bolts and roller brackets with a socket wrench to keep the door from getting off track.

Test the garage door balance as well. If the door isn’t balanced, it will take more strain and work for the opener mechanisms to work and the door won’t last as long as it should. You may need a technician to disconnect the garage door opener by pulling the release handle. This is usually a red cord that you move by hand. Use the cord to pull the door about halfway up and if the door doesn’t stay in place, the springs in the door aren’t balanced properly. Adjusting the springs is likely necessary, and it’s best to leave this task to a professional.

Finally, make sure the rollers are working well. You’ll need to inspect the garage door rollers and replace them if necessary. Whether our rollers are nylon or steel, it’s important to inspect them about every six months. The rollers usually need to be replaced every seven years, but you may need to replace them sooner if you use the garage door several times a day. If your rollers are chipped, cracked or worn, replace them as soon as you can. To replace the rollers, have them removed or reinstalled if the rollers aren’t attached directly to the cable system.