Garage Door Safety & Maintenance Tips

- Private group -
Mon, 12/22/2014 - 7:30am

Your garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. At WinsMor Garage Door Co., Inc. we believe a well-built garage door is important for your family's safety as well as the aesthetic quality of your home. Did you know that a new garage door can also be a financially smart move as well? A report released by Remodeling Magazine shows that a garage door replacement offers one of the highest returns on investment of any midrange or upscale home improvement project. Whether you are ready to replace your existing garage door or if you have one that still has many years left to offer you, the following tips could prove to be very helpful in maintianing the safety and quality of your garage door.

SAFETY
Make sure the garage door opener control button is out of the reach of small children and do not allow them to play with the remote controls. 

Never place fingers between door sections and explain the dangers to children.

If someone has backed into the garage door it’s a good idea to have the door inspected and/or repaired by a trained service technician. Even if the door doesn’t appear to be severely damaged, the operating system may have become misaligned and wear prematurely, creating what could be a dangerous environment.

Visually inspect the garage door each month. Look at springs, cables, rollers and pulleys for signs of wear. Do not attempt to remove, adjust or repair these parts or anything attached to them. Any repairs or adjustments should be done by a trained door repairman due to the parts being under high tension.

You can test the garage door opener’s reversing mechanism monthly by placing a 2 x 4 board or a roll of paper towels in the door’s path. If the door does not reverse after contacting the object, call WinsMor Garage Door Co., Inc. for repair. If the opener has not been replaced since 1993, seriously consider a new one with auto-reverse as a standard feature.

 

MAINTENECE
If your garage door is noisy, heavy, or does not roll smoothly, your door is in need of service.

Door balance test. If your door is equipped with an automatic opener system: close the door and disconnect the automatic opener. Once you are able to lift the door manually: Lift the door. It should lift smoothly with little resistance and should remain fully open. If it is difficult to open or does not remain open, the door may be out of balance and should be serviced by a trained service technician.

Photo eye test (if your door is equipped with an automatic opener system). Note: garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993, are required by federal law to be equipped with a reversing mechanism and a photo eye or edge sensor as added measures of safety to prevent entrapment. If your system does not have these features, replacement of your automatic operating system is recommended.

With the door fully open, push your garage door opener’s transmitter or wall button to close the door. Wave a long object, such as a broomstick, in front of one of the door’s photo eyes so it “breaks the beam.” The door should reverse.

If it does not reverse and reopen, pull the broomstick out of the path of the closing door. Close the door. With the door in the closed position, clean the photo eyes with a soft, dry cloth. Gently adjust the photo eyes by hand if they appear to be out of alignment. Open the door and repeat the photo eye test. If the door does not reverse and reopen, the door should be serviced by a trained service technician.

Monthly force setting test (if your door is equipped with an automatic opener system). With the door fully open, push your garage door opener’s transmitter or wall button to close the door. As the door is closing, hold up the bottom of the door with your hands outstretched and stiff. If the door does not easily reverse and continues to close, pull your hands away immediately. The closing force is excessive and the door should be serviced by a trained service technician.

Semi-annual lubrication. Apply a small amount of spray lubricant to the door’s hinges, rollers and tracks.

If you have a service need or a safety concern regarding your garage door or electric opener or if you would like information regarding purchasing a new door or opener call our showroom in Belfast at 207-930-3667 we are open M-F 9a-3p. All other times by appointment.

You can also visit our website at www.winsmor.com or find us on Facebook & like our page to see more tips and garage door installs.
WinsMor Showroom Belfast