Even if your garage door appears to be performing as it should, it’s always sensible to have it serviced by a garage door specialist at least once a year to check for any issues that may be developing, or that you haven’t yet noticed. Doing so can help prolong the overall lifespan of your garage door, and minimize costly repairs.
A service technician will take preventative measures to protect your garage door from damage, such as lubricating springs and rollers, tightening bolts and screws, and adjusting the tension of the springs. While very basic garage door maintenance can be carried out by the homeowner, a full and proper service requires a technician who knows what they’re doing.
Before a garage door technician arrives to service the door, take the time to ask yourself the following questions:
- Can the door be opened and closed manually from the outside, without the use of the garage door opener?
- Are any of the windows (if you garage door has them) broken or damaged?
- Does the door make any unusual noises when being opened and closed, such as clicking or whining?
- Does the door fully close with no apparent issues?
The more information you can give the technician, the better they will able to service your door and check for potential issues, before repairing them where necessary.
Below are two simple tests you can also carry out before your technician arrives:
- Check the photo eye – this mechanism prevents the garage door from closing if it detects an obstruction, such as a pet or child, keeping them safe from harm. To check whether it’s working effectively, you can take a broom or similar object and place it under the door, close to the ground, as it begins to close. If the door doesn’t immediately begin reversing and opening back up, a service technician will need to fix the problem as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep pets and children away from the door at all times.
- Check the doors alignment – your garage door should rise and lower manually once you’ve disconnected the opener (please consult with someone qualified before doing so), but if it requires excessive force to open it, or doesn’t move in a smooth manner, it may need to be looked at by a garage door specialist. Once you’ve performed that check, try raising the door halfway and letting go; if the door moves from that position, either up or down, then the door needs to be realigned by a garage door technician.
In general, services for your garage door are always helpful, even if the technician tells you that there are no issues with your door or opener; isn’t it better to have peace of mind and know that both are operating safely? To schedule your annual or bi-annual garage door service, reach out to a local garage door specialist today.
