Fall is often the season we use to prepare our homes for winter. Landscapes and any exterior home improvement projects are often reorganized to the top of the “to do” list before the bitterness of cold winter takes hold. With so much to do and little time to get it all done in the grand scheme of things, we at Quality Garage Door Repair would like to suggest making time this fall to prepare your garage door for winter. With the tips and advice listed below, you can avoid a lot of unpleasant circumstances and more.
Fall Garage Door Preparation
1) Garage Door Weather Stripping. Along the bottom of the garage door is a rubber strip, which is the weather stripping. Assess the condition; if any rips or dry cracking is present, get the weather stripping replaced.
2) Lubricate Moving Parts of Garage Door. Many of the hardware and metal parts require lubrication for smooth operation. If you are uncertain what needs lubricating, consult your garage door manual. Generally, rollers, tracks, and springs are commonly lubricated. Consider the following when doing your lubrication application:
– With a clean rag thoroughly wipe away dust and any old lubrication buildup before adding more.
– Be sure to use an oil-based lubricate. 10W-30 motor oil works well if you do not have formal lube.
– To ensure the oil is applied minimally, first administer lubricate to the rag and rub a light layer; wipe any drips and excess lube.
– Do not reach for the WD-40; it is a degreaser, not a lubricant.
– The rollers should not slide, but roll so avoid using grease.
3) Automatic Garage Door Reversal Systems Test. Automatic reversal systems consist of two different types; mechanical and photoelectric, they are designed safety features.
– Mechanical: Place a 2X4 on the thresh hold of your garage door and press the close button. When the door runs into the wood, it should detect the resistance and roll back up. If it doesn’t consult your manual for adjustments or call in a professional.
– Photoelectric: This system has two encased systems about 4″ from the ground that has a beam shooting from one to the other. Swipe your foot through the beam after you press the close button. A common problem is the units are not in alignment and the doors will not reverse. Make necessary adjustments using your manual, but if the problem persists, contact a professional
4) Garage Door Remote Battery. The average battery life in a remote garage opener is approximately a year. The more you use it however, the batter life is less. If you know you haven’t changed the battery in awhile, get a battery for your opener remote and have it easily retrievable.
5) External Garage Door Keypad Battery. Underneath the keypad cover is a 9volt battery. Typically, the compartment cover is secured with a screw (Philips in most cases). The extreme hot temperatures we face in the summer easily drain the battery. It is also handy to have a spare on hand close the year mark.
6) Garage Door Counterbalance System. The springs for your garage door, or the counterbalance system, needs to be inspected. Be sure to disable your garage opener by pulling the emergency cord first. With little effort, gently open the door and try using just one hand. If it was simple to open, the test checks out and you are good to go. If it was difficult, call in a professional to avoid catastrophe.
Residential Garage Door Services in Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, North LV, Paradise, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada
Before winter hits, it is also a good idea to invest in a garage door tune-up service. Call Quality Garage Door Repair today and let our experts do the rest.
