8 Top Garage Door Safety Tips

8 Top Garage Door Safety Tips

We often use our garage doors without even thinking about it or worrying whether everything is working correctly or not. You press the button on your remote and poof! The door opens. Then you hear some bizarre noises… Don’t panic! First of all, you should understand that the movement of the garage door and the action of your door opener involve a certain amount of noise. Here’s some garage door safety tips to check before you call in the professionals.

1. Spring system

Whether you have a torsion spring system (located above the door) or an extension spring system (located above the horizontal tracks), check to make sure the springs aren’t broken. This is probably the most important thing to check for garage door safety.

2. Rollers

Check the rollers on each side of the door to see if any of them are broken or in poor condition.

3. Horizontal tracks

Looking from the back of the garage, make sure that the two tracks are well‑aligned and parallel. Also verify that the bolts in the triangular steel braces that hold up the tracks are firmly tightened.

4. Hinges

Check to make sure that none of the screws holding the rollers in place have come loose.

5. Lifting cables

On each side of the door, inspect the lifting cables to make sure they are winding correctly around the reels located at the top of the vertical tracks. Also check to see if either of the cables is frayed. Fraying can be a major garage door safety issue.

6. Door opener rail

If the carriage assembly that pulls the door consists of three pieces, check to see if the bolts holding them together are firmly tightened.

7. Door opener drive

Whether your system is chain‑driven or belt‑driven, make sure the tension is correct. Ideally, there should be some give in the chain or belt, which shouldn’t be stretched tight as if it were a guitar string. However, it should be taut enough so that it doesn’t hang out of the door opener carriage.

8. Exterior weather‑stripping

Check to see if the weather‑stripping on the exterior framework is well‑attached to the door frame.

If you don’t find anything broken or seriously out of adjustment, you may be wondering what you can do on your own to help make your garage door work better. It’s simple: a good lubrication of the metal parts that move the most‑the rollers, hinges and springs. All you need is a little motor oil (e.g. 10W‑30) and a rag.

On the other hand, if you find any significant or unusual problem, don’t try to repair the broken part yourself, especially if it has anything to do with the spring system. Doing so can jeopardize your safety and that of your family.

Don’t wait until your garage door stops working just when you need it most! Contact us now to schedule a service call!