1. LISTEN AND OBSERVE

Watch your garage door in action this week. Does it move smoothly? Does it jerk or buck in places? Does it operate softly or loudly making grinding or scraping noises? Do both sides of the system (springs, pulleys and cables) look symmetrical?

2. KEEP IT TIGHT

Most garage doors move up and down more than a thousand times a year. All of this movement and vibration, can and will loosen hardware. Examine and tighten all roller brackets and bolts with a socket wrench to a comfortable, snug feel.

3. INSPECT THE ROLLERS

The rollers, whether steel or nylon, need to be inspected regularly and usually replaced about every seven years. Worn out rollers that may be cracked, pitted or chipped should be replaced as soon as possible. One poor roller can cause multiple failures in the blink of an eye, like a multi car pile up on I-64! Replacement of these parts typically requires a professional service company. But one or two now are better and 10 plus a new garage door this winter!

4. CHECK THE CABLES

Cables that lift your door are under very high tension and breakage can unleash enough force to easily kill or maim someone. We encourage you to check their condition by looking for broken strands and damage near the bottom roller bracket.

5. LUBRICATE THE MOVING PARTS

A little attention to lubrication will add years of smooth operation to your system – and it takes just 10 minutes a year! Use a spray lubricant, available from your garage door specialist, to coat all of the moving parts, including the overhead springs.

Of course, if you see or hear any of the problems we have discussed, the same is true in the garage door business as in many… An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. At Wagner Garage Door, we’re there when you need us.