Tips for Proper Care and Maintenance of Your Overhead Door in Houston
February 25, 2015When it comes to regular maintenance, even the most conscientious homeowners tend to overlook their garage doors. However, proper maintenance can help your overhead door in Houston to perform better and last years longer than it would otherwise. Just as you get your car and furnace serviced regularly, you should have your garage door checked as well. If you can’t do it yourself, enlist the services of a qualified technician. Remember to use extreme caution when inspecting or working on your garage door, as its spring system and sheer weight can pose a safety hazard. Avoid expensive repairs down the road by adding this list of annual garage door inspection and “tune-up” items to your homeowner duties: 1. Safety check. Do a visual check of your garage door to see if there are any frayed cables, damaged rollers or rusted out bottom brackets. Replace these worn parts as needed. 2. Tighten it up. With the appropriate size socket wrench, tighten any loosened nuts and bolts on your hinges or door tracks. Do not tighten or loosen nuts or bolts with warning tags and/or that are red in color; leave these to a professional garage door company like Overhead Door in Houston. 3. Check the safety reverse function. With the garage door open, place a piece of wood on your garage floor below the opening. Push your wall button to close the door and make sure that when the door touches the wood, it reverses immediately and opens again. If it does not, your door needs service. 4. Maintain your sensors. While closed, use a dry, soft cloth to clean your garage door’s photo sensors. Adjust their positioning carefully as needed if they’re out of alignment. Open the garage door, then close it; as it closes, wave something in front of one of the sensors. The door should reverse; if it does not, have it serviced right away. 5. Do a balance check. With your door closed, pull the release cord to disengage the opener; raise the door manually halfway, then release it gently. If it raises or lowers, it has become out of balance and you should seek out garage door repair in Houston. 6. Keep it moving. Take the time to lubricate the moving parts of your garage door with an approved silicone lubricant spray. (Never use WD-40 or axle grease.) 7. Keep it clean. After you’ve performed these maintenance steps, take a few minutes to clean your garage door. Use a dust rag on the inside, and a sponge and some mild soap and water on the outside. You can rinse off the exterior of your garage using a light spray from a garden hose. Use these tips to keep your garage door in great condition for years to come. If you ever need garage door service or repair, contact Overhead Door in Houston for fast, friendly and professional service.