As a new homeowner, you have a lot of things to worry about, whether it’s your foundation, siding, roof, and yes, even your garage door. In a brand-new home, you might not have to worry about your garage door for some time, but there are still a few things you should watch out for. Today we’re going to talk about potential garage door problems and how you can maintain this vital part of your home. Your garage door is one of the first things that people see when they visit your home, it keeps you safe, and even helps to regulate the temperature inside your garage. Without a correctly maintained garage door, you could end up with an enormous energy bill at the end of the month. Remember: while there are some things you can do yourself, sometimes a garage door repair service in Plantation might be the only way to resolve the problem
Listen to Your Door
While your garage door isn’t going to speak to you that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be listening. A garage door that is on the verge of a breakdown will make all sorts of noise whether it’s banging, screeching, or the occasional dragging sound. These noises can indicate serious problems, for example, banging could mean that the track is warped, and the door is unable to move up and down without obstruction. Another common ‘banging’ sound is that of a spring breaking which you won’t be able to see without further investigation, especially if you have a torsion spring. While all garage doors make noise when they are going up and down, any good garage door repair service will tell you that abnormal noises are almost always indicative of a problem.
Keep the Components Lubricated
This isn’t something that you need to do every day, but you should lubricate the door components at least once every six months. Components that need this extra attention include nylon or steel rollers and the chain. We do not recommend that you lubricate the entire track and when lubricating any part of your garage door you should strictly avoid using WD-40. While it is normally the Swiss army knife of lubricants, it is water-based and can cause more problems than solutions. Instead, we strongly advise that you use a white silicone-based lubricant to keep your garage door moving.
Clean up the Floor
The floor below the weather seal on your garage needs to be cleaned regularly using a shop broom. Dirt and debris should be pushed out of the way so that they do not collect on the weather seal, ultimately causing it to crack, or even preventing it from spreading evenly against the floor when your garage door is in the down position.
Clear the Sensors
Residential garage doors employ a set of sensors near the floor to guarantee that the door will not close if it does not have the appropriate clearance. These sensors emit a beam of light that when broken, forces the door to cease operation. For example, if the door were closing and a small animal or child stood beneath it, the beam would be broken, and the door would simply move back into the up position. This system is great in both theory and practice, but there are instances of human error that can cause the beam to break. When you are performing routine garage door maintenance in your Plantation home, make sure that there is no debris blocking the sensors and most importantly, that they are correctly aligned as you can inadvertently bump them and change their position.
Maintaining your garage door can be easy, at least as far as the basics go but if you find that you are in over your head, it is always a good idea to seek out a professional garage door service company here in Plantation. The garage is not only the first thing people see, but it is also the gateway to your home, and you want to make sure it is protected and fully functional. Call us today for a repair quote; we’ll set your door right.