Spring cleaning & your garage door

The following guidelines can you save you time and money.

Garage door

Clean your garage door regularly with a liquid, car wash and wax product with a good quality car wash mitt as you would use for your car, and rinse the surface with a garden hose. Avoid using abrasive cleaners and very strong liquid cleaners which could damage the paint or cause delaminating. If you have a steel garage door, you can revive its luster by applying a car wax as it will protect against acid rain and dust. It is best to avoid waxing in direct sunlight to achieve better results.

Spring cleaning & your garage door

Exterior weatherstripping

Clean the weatherstripping with a good all-purpose cleaner. Lubricate it every 2 or 3 months with a SILICONE-based lubricant. Never use a petroleum-based lubricant on weatherstripping as it will dry up and crack. Don't forget the weatherstrip between your door panels. It is important to let your weatherstrip hang 1/2" below the door base when you readjust your perimeter weatherstripping. If the weatherstripping is too tight, the door will not function properly. So if your weathestripping has lost its flexibility, it is best to replace it.

Hardware

Lubrification: Lubricate the rollers, tracks and hinges and all moving hardware parts with a little motor oil (e.g.: 10W30) every three months. Wipe off excess oil with a cloth. As for the springs, use the same oil applied with a cloth.You are not only prolonging the spring's life, but also reducing the noise the springs make when the door is operated.

According to J-F Morin, marketing director for Garaga, an important Canadian garage door manufacturer: «At least once a year, home owners must check the following:

  • the sturdiness and adjustment of the hinges;
  • the rollers for worn-out ball bearings, flattened rollers, and crooked rods;
  • the tracks for premature wear and tear, loose bolts, and loose supports;
  • the cables for wear and tear; especially near the pulleys and the lower support (corner bracket).»

Garage door opener

Depending on the model you own, consult the manufacturer's guide. If you want to add some white grease on the operator track, again you must first clean the track. By oiling all the mobile parts you will reduce the noise initiated by the motor. If it is still too noisy for your liking, then nylon rollers would help reduce the noise.

Release cord

Pull on the trolley release cord and operate the door manually. Is it difficult to open and close? The electric operator only replaces manual operation, therefore it must move freely. If you have trouble operating it, contact your Garaga dealer. A well-balanced door must not weigh more than 10 lbs (4.5kg). For your safety as well as your child's, check the automatic safety reverse system of the door opener EVERY MONTH.

Springs

Do not attempt to adjust the extension or torsion springs yourself. They are wound very tight and only a specialist should adjust them, for your own protection.

Final advice

Consider your garage door as an important part of your home. With appropriate annual maintenance, it will operate beautifully. Ask a qualified Garaga Dealer installer, to lubricate and adjust your garage door at least yearly. In a 10 step check-up, he will lubricate all the above mentioned parts and perform any required repairs.

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