Your garage door is the largest moving part of your home, and a little TLC can go a long way in preventing costly repairs and extending its lifespan. However, not all maintenance tasks are created equal. Some are perfectly safe for a handy homeowner, while others carry significant risks and should only be handled by a trained professional.
Safe DIY Tasks You Can Do Seasonally:
- Visual Inspection: Regularly look over the door's springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for signs of wear or damage. If you see anything frayed or broken, do not touch it and call us immediately.
- Lubrication: Moving parts need lubrication to operate smoothly. Use a silicone-based lubricant on the rollers, hinges, and springs once or twice a year to reduce noise and friction.
- Clean the Tracks: Wipe down the metal tracks with a damp cloth to remove any debris or grime that could obstruct the rollers.
- Test the Reversal Mechanism: Place a 2x4 piece of wood on the ground in the door's path. When the door hits the wood, it should automatically reverse. If it doesn't, the opener needs professional adjustment.
What You Should NEVER Do Yourself:
Warning: Garage door springs and cables are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury or death if handled improperly.
- Never attempt to adjust or replace the springs. Torsion springs (the ones on a bar above the door) are the most dangerous. This is a job strictly for professionals with the right tools and training.
- Never try to replace the lift cables. These cables are also under high tension and are connected to the spring system. A snapping cable can be incredibly dangerous.
- Don't remove the bottom brackets. These brackets are connected to the lift cables and are under constant tension.
By handling the simple maintenance and leaving the dangerous tasks to us, you can ensure your garage door operates safely and reliably for years to come. If you're ever in doubt, it's always safest to call for professional service.