Keeping your eyes and ears open for problems with your garage door can help you prevent expensive and dangerous breakdowns in the future. While there’s no replacement for regular, professional maintenance sessions, there are easy things that any homeowner can do to stay abreast of what’s going on with their door. Here are some tips for monitoring your system.
Listen While It Works
The first sign of something wrong with a garage door is often a new sound that appears during the course of its operation. If you hear a squealing, grinding, or rattling noise that hasn’t always been there, it means that something has changed. Squealing noises often indicate that something needs to be lubricated, while grinding or rattling are likely to be caused by breakages or misalignments. Pay attention when you open or close your door, and try to figure out where any new noises are coming from.
Check For Rust
Rust can happen very suddenly, or very gradually, and can do a lot of damage to your system if you leave it untreated. Check the tracks on either side of the door for flecks of red, inspect the hinges between the door panels, and look up at the springs and chains to see if there’s any discoloration. You should also make sure that there are no leaks in your garage roof or windows, and that the door is insulated against the weather – especially if you have metal panels.
Test The Safety Mechanisms
The safety sensors on either side of your door should be periodically tested to make sure they cover the entire space under the panels. You can test them by placing an object at different points along the threshold and trying to close the door. If your door has an automatic safety lock, you can test it the same way by trying to close the door on an object and seeing if it stops and reverses. This is fairly easy to do and requires only a few minutes of your time.
Pay Attention To Any Changes
If your garage door starts taking longer to activate, or begins to move more jerkily, don’t just shrug it off. Changes in your door’s behavior may develop into a bigger problem if permitted. Take note of any seemingly minor problems, and ask a professional about them sooner rather than later.
To learn more about caring for your garage door, keep exploring our site or give us a call directly at Garage Door Repair West Jordan.