If your garage door isn’t working the way it should, there could be any number of factors contributing this. It’s a good practice to know the basics of your automatic garage door parts and how they work together so that when you need to call the professionals for repairs, you can easily point them in the right direction. Following are some general tips about what makes your garage door system work and some possible issues that can arise with each.
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The Door is the Biggest Piece
The garage door is apparently the largest and most visible piece of your home, but it’s constructed in a way that allows it to roll smoothly up and down. Usually built from large individual sections, each panel is held together by metal hinges to strengthen and hold them together during operation. Sometimes these hinges can become rusty or break, creating an unstable motion that could interfere with the safe operation of the entire system.
The Opener is the Heart of Your Automatic Garage Door System
The motor that bears the brunt of the work opening and closing your garage door can perform thousands of rotations throughout its life, so problems are expected after many years of continuous service. From electrical to mechanical, the opener should be inspected and repaired by qualified professionals in any scenario.
Springs are What Balance the Weight of Your Garage Door
The considerable weight that pulls on the torsion springs of your automatic door can cause the springs to wear out over time. Other factors, such as extreme weather, can create corrosion or brittleness that may lead to breakage or other kinds of damage.
Sensors Keep You Safe During Garage Door Operation
All modern automatic garage door systems have built-in safety features like collision and laser sensors. These ensure that if something obstructs the safe operation of the door, the motor will reverse and open the door until the blockage is cleared. You want to make sure these sensors are operating correctly by using a stick to break the laser sensor or setting up a bucket or brick to test the collision sensor.
The Tracks Keep Your Door Rolling Smoothly
Your garage door rolls along metal tracks during operation. When properly aligned and maintained the door will open smoothly and quietly, but sometimes bolts can come loose or inadvertent collisions can create dents in your tracks and interfere with safe operation. Inspect your tracks every once in a while and feel the bolts to make sure they’re tightened. If you see a serious dent or breakage, be sure to call the professionals to inspect your system and give you an estimate.
Weather Stripping Keeps the Environment Out of Your Garage
Every garage door has a large weather seal on the bottom to protect your home from environmental hazards and unwanted pests. The soft rubber also acts as a cushion so that the door isn’t damaged upon closing so it’s important to check every so often to make sure the seal is in good shape and can perform its proper function.
Featured Image Credit: http://firstclassgaragedoors.com/
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