subject: Garage Door Openers: Tips For Easy Maintenance [print this page] If you have installed a garage door opener yourself or if you have paid a professional to do the job you know that it is quite complex and costly and it is usually not a process you want to repeat any time soon. To lengthen the life of your opener it is important to perform regular and inspections and maintenance procedures to the entire system.
Making sure you garage door and the springs, tracks, and all other hardware are in good condition will ensure that your opener can easily do its job. Following these simple maintenance tips will help ensure that they will last as long as or even longer than they were designed to.
Every six months you ought to thoroughly inspect the entire system. Look for loose screws and bolts, worn metal, dirt on the tracks, check the springs, levers, hinges, and cables and notice any abnormalities.
When there is a problem test the electric openers itself by pulling the release cord when it is in closed position to disconnect the door from the opening mechanism. Then attempt to open it manually. If it opens smoothly and correctly than it can be determined that there is a problem with the opener and it must be repaired or replaced.
If the doors are difficult to raise when disconnected to the opener the springs may be the culprit. If the springs are in perfect condition it should be able to stay half open on its own.
If it starts to rise, the springs may be too tight, and if it falls slowly then crashes to the ground, the springs are worn out and need to be replaced with new ones. Do not attempt to repair or replace the springs as it is extremely dangerous. Call a professional.
Clean the tracks. When dirt builds on the track, the rollers can't move along the track smoothly.
It is important to regularly lubricate all the moving parts such as the rollers and hinges with a light oil. Never use a grease or heavy oil to do the job.
Paint both sides of your wooden one initially to prevent warping and then repaint the outside every two to three years.
If you have a one piece swinging door on an opener it might be wise to install some metal reinforcing strips on the inside of the door to keep it from sagging in the raised position.
If you notice a problem, take care of it immediately. If neglected, the problem may get worse and the system may become dangerous to the user.
