Regular garage door maintenance is important for safety, security, and convenience. Annual servicing of your garage doors Franklin TN is encouraged, so that minor issues can be detected before they become major problems. In addition to annual servicing from the professionals, there are several things that you can do to keep your garage doors running smoothly. A check-up, if you will.

Start with the Garage Door Basics

Check for signs of wear while standing inside the garage with the door closed. Inspect coils, springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys, looking for fraying or loose hardware. Check door balance. For automatic models, close the door, disconnect it from the automatic operating system, and open manually; the door should lift easily.

Test Reversing Mechanism

Automatic garage doors should not close if they encounter an obstruction. Test this by opening the door and placing a piece of 2×4 or small wood block on the floor under the door. Press the remote or wall switch to lower. If the door does not reverse when it encounters the wood, you have a serious, potentially disastrous, problem. Disconnect from the automated system and have it professionally repaired.

Test Photo Eye Sensor

When this sensor is triggered, a door that is closing should automatically reverse to the fully open position. To test, start with the door open. After pressing the wall switch or remote device, wave a long object like a broom or rake, to break the beam of the sensor. If it does not immediately reverse, close the door and clean the lens with a soft, dry cloth. If cleaning does not correct the problem, call a professional.

Noise Level

Doors will make noise as they open and close, but excessive noise can be irritating and distracting. To reduce noise, tighten all hardware, and apply a small amount of spray lubricant to hinges, rollers, and track. Consider replacing metal rollers with nylon rollers. Do not attempt to replace bottom brackets if your door has torsion springs. For the sake of safety, let the specialists take care of those replacements.

Cleaning

Clean garage doors Franklin TN make your home look better, or your business more professional, and should be part of regular garage door maintenance. Before cleaning, remove loose debris with a brush or broom. Clean with a mild detergent diluted with water, and rinse thoroughly. Gently clean roller tracks with a broom or dry cloth to maintain smooth operation. Don’t forget to clean weather stripping at bottom of door. Power washing is not recommended for residential use, because it can damage the finish on some metal and wood doors.

Does it Stick?

If your automatic doors stick, try this: pull the manual override cord to disconnect from the automatic system. If the door opens and closes smoothly in the manual mode, the problem may be with the electric motor. Refer to your owner’s manual or consult a Garage Door Service professional before attempting repairs.

Insulation

Garage Doors that are insulated reduce heating and cooling costs, and minimize street noise. Make your home or business warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and cut down on noise from outside by installing insulation. Batt, foam board or reflective insulation can be used with steel doors. Use foam board or reflective insulation on flat doors without panels.

Keep area near doors free of excess items. Mops, brooms or rakes leaning near doors can fall into the path of the door and cause the door to malfunction. Stacked items pose the same threat and should be located elsewhere in the garage. Attending to small issues and adhering to an annual check-up will keep your garage doors Franklin TN safe, clean, and in great condition. Let the garage door professionals at All Four Seasons help you with all of your garage door needs! Call us at 615-274-8419, or visit us online at All Four Seasons Franklin TN.