Don't Get Stuck Outside: How To Care For Your Garage Door Opener
If you arrive home in the middle of the night, or during inclement weather, the last thing you want is for your garage door opener to fail you. Unfortunately, that's exactly what can happen if you don't keep your garage door properly maintained. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help prevent mechanical malfunctions. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your garage door opener in tiptop shape.
Conduct a Thorough Cleaning
When it comes to your garage door, it's important that you keep everything clean. Even a small amount of dirt and debris can jam up the works. The two main components that will need to be cleaned are the tracks and the brackets.
Tracks
To get started cleaning the tracks, you'll need a whisk broom, a bucket, warm water, dish detergent, and a sponge. First, use your whisk broom to remove all the loose debris including dirt and leaves. Second, fill your bucket with warm water and add a few teaspoons of grease-cutting dish detergent. Finally, wipe down all of the tracks using your sponge and the soapy water. All the tracks to air dry.
Brackets
To clean the brackets, you'll need to remove them from the garage door by using a wrench to loosen the nuts. Place the brackets in a disposal container and add enough mineral spirits to cover them. Allow the brackets to soak for about 30 minutes. Use an old paintbrush to clean the brackets. Wipe them dry and then reattach them to the garage door.
Add Some Lube
Your garage door is going to run a lot smoother if all the moving parts are properly lubricated. Use a water-based lubricating spray to lube the latch and the movable joints along the tracks. Finally, use a gear oil to lubricate the chain drive that moves the garage door.
Make the Adjustments
If your garage door is making noises as it moves along the tracks, the brackets could be out of alignment. To get your door operating properly, you'll need to adjust the brackets. To do this, you'll need a level, a wrench, and a rubber mallet. Place your level against the tracks where each bracket is attached. If the level is not plumb – the bubble doesn't sit right between the two lines – you'll need to adjust the bracket. Loosen the nuts with your wrench and gently tap the bracket with your mallet until it's properly adjusted. Repeat the process with each bracket.
You depend on your garage door opener. You can help prevent problems by keep your garage door opener well-maintained. For other tips on how to care for your garage door opener, be sure to speak to a repair technician from a company like Brian's Garage Doors LLC.
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