Have you been getting stuck outside because your garage door is sticking? Or, maybe it's making strange noises when it opens and closes? If either of these scenarios sound familiar, your garage door may need some maintenance. Don't worry. In most cases, you'll be able to take care of the maintenance by yourself. Here are some common issues you may encounter, as well as simple instructions for taking care of the problem.
1. Door Keeps Getting Stuck in One Spot
If your garage door keeps getting stuck in the same place or it seems to slip each time it gets to a particular spot, you may have a build-up of grease and dirt on the tracks. If you haven't washed your tracks in a while – or you've never washed them – a thorough washing may solve the problem.
Directions
Fill a bucket with warm water.
Add ¼ cup each of grease-cutting dish detergent and lemon juice.
Close your garage door so that you have access to the entire length of track on both sides of the garage.
Use a scrub brush to scrub the tracks.
Wipe them clean with a wet cloth.
Allow the tracks to air dry before using your garage door.
Repeat the process once a month to keep your garage door opening properly.
2. Door Is Making Strange Noises
Garage doors naturally make noises when they open and close. However, if your door is making strange sounds – such as clanging or grinding – there may be some loose bolts or damaged tracks. Close your garage door and inspect the tracks. Look for loose or missing bolts and tighten or replace them, as needed.
Also look for sections of bent or damaged tracks. Try to bend them back into place. However, if you can't bend them into place, you'll need to have them replaced. A garage door technician will be able to take care of those repairs for you.
3. Door Doesn't Close All the Way
If your garage door isn't closing all the way, or it reverses as soon as it gets close to the garage floor, there may be something blocking the sensors. The sensors on each side of the garage send beams back and forth to each other.
If something is in the way or blocking the beam, the sensor will send a signal and the garage door will either stop or reverse. Check the area around the sensors. Move any items that might be blocking the beam and then try your door again. If the problem persists, you'll need to have a technician come out and inspect your door.
With regular maintenance, your garage door should operate properly. However, if you run into additional problems, be sure to have a technician come out to your home.
To learn more, contact a garage door maintenance company like Rogers Overhead Door Co.
Share3 July 2015
I thought the most difficult part of teaching my son how to drive would be out on the roads, but I didn't think about what he could do to my garage door before he even left the driveway. It took one small tap with the car to damage the garage door. Even though the garage door itself looked to be fine, the impact had caused some damage to the mechanical components, and we couldn't use the garage for a while. My blog explains what we had to do to make the repairs and will give you some tips for avoiding this type of accident around your home.
