Garage Door Maintenance in Madison WI

The following are recommendations of the National Association of Garage Door Manufacturers:

The garage door is the largest piece of moving equipment in the home. Properly installed, tested, operated, and safely maintained, a garage door can provide years of safe and efficient service. An improperly installed or maintained garage door is potentially dangerous and can lead to serious injury or even death.

1. Inspection

Each month, look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect any problems, have a qualified person make repairs. Garage door springs, and the cables and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified professional should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust torsion springs yourself.

2. Balancing the Door

Periodically test the balance of the door. Start with the door closed. If the door is equipped with an electric opener, disconnect the garage door opener release mechanism so you can operate the door by hand. You should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little resistance. If you let go of the garage door at about waist high, it should stay without moving in either direction. If it does not stay still, it is out of balance and should be adjusted by a qualified person.

3. Lubrication

Regularly lubricate all moving parts of the door with oil. The best bet is regular 40W motor oil. Never use grease. Grease gets hard in cold weather and will hamper the operation of the door. Normally, a door should be lubricated 2 or 3 times a year. Your usage will determine how often to lubricate your garage door.

4. Garage Door Opener Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Many people equip their garage doors with electric garage door openers. The electric opener must be property installed, tested, operated, and maintained. The opener has to exert great force to open and close the door, and can be dangerous if not properly adjusted. An improperly adjusted opener, or one without modem or property maintained safely devices, can result in failures or accidents which could cause serious injury or death from someone being hit by a closing door or becoming trapped under the door. Periodically test the opener to make sure it has a safety reverse mechanism and that it is working. Refer to the owner?s manual and other information provided by the manufacturer of the electric opener for information on proper installation, testing, operation, and maintenance of the opener. When an electric opener is installed, the pull down ropes normally used for manual operation must be removed and locks made inoperative or removed.

5. General Garage Door Operation Safety Tips

Keep hands and fingers clear of section joints, tracks and other door parts when the door is opening or closing. Do not let anyone stand, walk, or run under a moving door, or play beat the door. Do not let children play with or use the garage door, transmitter, or remote controls. Keep transmitters and remote controls out of the reach of children. The push button wall control for an electric opener should be mounted out of the reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor). Never operate the door unless you can see it, and keep it in sight until it completely closes.