A garage door is a powerful piece of equipment, and so it is of the utmost importance that you regularly check all the parts are working optimally. But regularly doesn’t mean you have to be out there every single week. No, just once every season. That’s just 4 times a year…
These 4 checks will make sure your garage door is running smoothly and that it won’t cause any accidents. Remember, garage doors are calibrated to counterbalance a specific weight, and while there are some small things you can do yourself, if you notice anything off with the garage door system, call a garage door expert to remedy the situation.
Visually Inspect the Door System
Begin with looking at how the overall door system works by placing yourself inside the garage with the garage door closed. Step inside your garage and close the door, have a look at the following:
- Are the rollers still in working condition? Are they rolling in the horizontal track like they should be?
- Are the lifting cables still intact? You don’t want them to be frayed at all.
- If you have a torsion spring, is it intact?
- Same goes for extension springs, if you have them are they intact?
- Are the horizontal tracks well aligned?
- Are there any screws or bolts that need tightening?
Check that the door is properly balanced
As I mentioned earlier, garage doors are calibrated to counteract a specific weight, this should give the door a perceived weight of about 10 lbs, i.e. you should be able to lift it manually using just one hand. A properly balanced door is so important as it can prevent serious injury.
To check the door is well balanced, pull on the red emergency release cord on your electronic door opener to disengage the door opener. Then try to open the door manually. Here you want to check two things; 1) can you open it one‑handed? and 2) if you leave it open halfway, will the door stay in position or does it start to close? If you either cannot open the door one‑handed or if the door closes by itself when left open halfway, it’s imperative that you contact a garage door professional right away to remedy the situation.
Check the MECHANICAL Reversal System
The mechanical reversal system prevents the garage door from closing on something in its path. To check it’s working, place something like a piece of wood in the doors path and operate the door opener to close the door. The door should automatically reverse and open when it makes contact with the piece of wood.
If it doesn’t, you’ll need to adjust the door opener’s sensitivity by turning the limit adjusting screws a quarter turn counterclockwise until the mechanical reversal system works as it should. Generally, the limit adjusting screws are found on the side of the door opener’s housing.
Check the PHOTO-EYE Reversal System
The photo‑eye reversal system is another safety feature that is included on all garage door openers manufactured in North America since 1993. Like the mechanical reversal system, it is there to prevent the door from closing on things in its path. Unlike the mechanical system, the photo‑eye system uses light beams to detect whether something is in the way of the door.
To check if the system is working, pass your hand or foot in front of one of the light units on either side of the garage door as the door is closing. As you break the light beam, the door should automatically reverse and open. If it doesn’t, the light units are probably misaligned or there may be a broken wire between the unit and the opener.
If you haven’t been carrying out regular maintenance…
… and are worried about the state of your garage door system, contact us at 613-749-2138. We offer a ‘Tune‑up’ program that will have your garage door system running in perfect condition in no time. We can even help if you’re thinking about changing your garage door altogether, we’ll even come out to your home to explain the different models on the market! Or, if you prefer, you can simply request a quotation.
If you are going to change your garage door, why not look through our image gallery for inspiration? If you already know which kind of garage door you’d like, ‘try it on’ using our Design Centre tool. Simply upload a photo of your garage and superimpose your chosen garage door.
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