The garage door wouldn’t work this morning when you went to the car? Sounds like it is time for some maintenance. Almost all garage doors come in two types. One is the roll-up garage door and the other is the swing-up. The roll-up door moves like the top cover of a roll up desk. The swing-up door opens like the back door on a station wagon.
Garage doors are fairly simple. Whether it is a roll-up or a swing-up they operate with basically the same equipment. Both doors slide along a track when they move. Both doors employ a pulley and cable system as well as a set of springs to lift the door. The doors are held in place by mounting to the garage jambs with brackets anchored with heavy bolts or screws.
Yes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Regular garage door maintenance will guarantee the quick and quiet operation of your door. Make certain the rails are clean. Wipe them down to remove the dirt and any grease. Dirt and grease will slow the movement of the door. An occasional misting of the rails with a graphite spray will keep the door rolling. The panel hinges on the door itself should also be oiled. If they are rusty replace them or clean them with an anti-rust solvent. Also check to make certain all the hinges are secured to the door. Replace any missing screws.
While you have the oil can out, oil the wheels in the rail. That will help them move smoothly. Make certain the wheels are centered in the track. The wheels can be adjusted by moving the wheel axle in or out depending on the need.
Spray some graphite into the lock and key hole. This keeps them operating smoothly and prevents rust. At the same time make certain the bar lock is in alignment with the jamb hole it enters. If it is not it can be adjusted by either at lockset or the bar guide that holds the lock bar. A screwdriver works for this repair.
Too muck slack in the cable pulley system can cause the door to go astray. Take up any slack in the cable by releasing the end of the cable from the pulley, cutting enough excess off the cable end so the cable is no longer slack. Then, re-attach it to the pulley. The tension springs may have stretched out over time. They can be fixed by removing them from their hole and placing them in the next hole. This will make them tighter. If this doesn’t work a new spring needs to be purchased. The door tracks need to be parallel. If not the door will jam and stick as it goes up and down. Use a tape measure to measure the distance between the two jambs. If the distance between the tracks is the same as you move along the tracks then you are ok. If not you will need to adjust the tracks to make them parallel. There is a large tension spring for most garage doors. These springs can be very dangerous as they are under great pressure and tension. Seek professional help if the tension spring needs work.
Water can also be a culprit for garage doors. Water will warp the door and make it difficult if not impossible to open. So if there is any standing water at the foot of the door repair the ground so the water runs away from the door. This can be accomplished with some concrete work. Keep door edges and bottoms sealed so water can’t seep into the door and rot it. A good quality paint will take care of this. Moisture resistant paints are also available. In this same way it is important to keep the face of the door well painted. If peeling and flaking appear scrape the door with a good wire brush or paint scraper. Apply a primer paint. Allow this to dray, and then apply a top coat of paint. Select a paint that is an exterior weather resistant quality. If the door is metal a paint specifically for metal should be applied, both a primer and a cover coat.
There should also be a tight seal at the bottom of the door. This will keep small animals out of the garage. If your garage is attached to the house this seal is also important as a good deal of house heat can be lost through this crack. A garage door weather-stripping is available at most hardware stores and can be applied simply with screws or nails.
If your door has windows make certain they are well maintained. Broken windows can lead to animal habitation and heat loss. Measure the window size. Have your local glass shop cut new glass to that size. In the window opening place a string of window glazing or caulk along the edges where the window will rest. Then insert the window and gently tap it into the caulk. Cut off the excess caulk. Finish off the window by surrounding it with some small round over molding.
The door should be ready to go. No excuse now for not getting to work on time in the morning.
