Top 10 Garage Door Maintenance Tips

1. Lubricate all hinges, rollers, springs, and bearings on a yearly basis.  Do not use WD-40.  WD-40 is a fantastic product for a lot of applications, just not lubricating garage doors.  You can use from a good silicone lubricant to light weight motor oil will work.  Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

2. The garage door opener should not be lubricated unless you have a Genie screw drive.  If this is the case, only high quality low temperature grease should be used. Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

3. Raise your door by hand periodically. You should be able to raise and lower the door with one hand without straining yourself.  If you have to strain to lift or close the door, then so does the opener.   If your door is out of adjustment, give us a call.  Never attempt any torsion spring adjustment or replacement yourself.  They are extremely dangerous.  Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

4. Columbus, Ohio can get a lot of snow and ice  in the winter.  Do your best to keep that snow and ice out from under the garage door.  There are two potential problems here:  the first would be the door freezing to the ground and the opener has to exert a lot of extra force to break it free.  This is why we see so many stripped out gears in the winter.  The second problem is the snow under the door essentially raises the floor so the opener thinks something is in the way and reverses when it hits the snow. Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

5. Your garage door opener should be at its highest point in the front of the garage.  If your opener is running uphill, it is putting undue stress on the door and the opener.  Your opener needs to be re-hung   Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

6. Make sure your garage door opener is centered all the way back.  This is another reason an opener can tear up a door.  You need to get the opener re-hung.  Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

7. Go over the door once a year and check for loose nuts and screws.  This is especially true for anyone who has a wood door.   Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

8. Store rakes, shovels, etc.  away from the garage door opening.  They can easily fall into the path of the door, throwing off a cable.  Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

9.  If your door has a lock on it and you have an opener on the door, disable the lock.  A simple nut and bolt through the lock can save you an expensive repair.  Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.

10.  Never attempt any adjustment involving the springs or cables.  I cannot stress this enough, this is how you get hurt.  Call Buckeye Doors for further assistance (614) 836-9090.