Regular garage door maintenance can help you avoid a lot of hassle and expense in the future and there are some tasks that owners can do easily by themselves. However, some maintenance tasks can be tricky or even risky and, in these cases, it is better to call in the experts. Here are some examples of garage door maintenance tasks when you should call in the pros.
Checking and Replacing Garage Door Springs
Your garage door probably has either torsion or extension springs to help the door open and close smoothly. If the springs are not functioning properly, it is vital to call in a professional to check them, as doing this yourself can be very dangerous. If this is not done right, the door can suddenly fall, which could mean that you are trapped inside the garage with no way out. It takes a lot of pressure to make the springs work right and if they suddenly snap during incorrect maintenance, they could cause a lot of pain and damage.
You can also break down the garage door spring replacement cost. It depends on the cost of materials, labor, and the removal of old garage door parts. How much your garage door spring costs also depends on whether you buy a single spring or a two-pack. The two kinds of garage door springs you’ll find when shopping for a new spring for your door are extension springs and torsion springs. Extension springs are cheaper; torsion springs cost 200% to 300% more than that. The average cost to have a professional install two new garage door springs can range between $150 and $350.
Directly above your garage door, running parallel to the door, are tension springs. To close the door, this type of spring uses torque; to open the door, it unwinds. The most durable and safest of the two is a torsion garage door spring.
Contrarily, extension springs are positioned perpendicular and in the middle of the garage door. As the name suggests, these springs stretch to open the door and shrink to close the door. Though they have a lower cost, you’ll need to replace these springs more often, and they’re less safe if they break.
Signs Your Garage Door Spring Needs to be Replaced
Although your garage door’s springs are strong, they can eventually rust, corrode, or break, and you’ll need to replace them for safety and convenience. Knowing when it’s time to replace your garage door spring can help you prevent a disaster from happening. Check out these seven indications that your garage door spring needs to be replaced:
- It’s seven years or older.
- Your garage door keeps opening and closing.
- You see droopy cables.
- The garage door opener has a hard time opening the door.
- You see rust in the spring.
- Your garage keeps opening and then closing or gets stuck.
- You hear unusual, loud sounds when you open and close the door.
Testing Garage Door Sensors
To prevent injuries, the safety reversing mechanism on the garage door needs to be checked regularly. The sensors must be put on the bottom of the garage door no higher than six inches from the ground, and if you find that they have been mounted higher than this, you should get a professional to lower them. Although it is possible to visually inspect the garage door sensors on your own, it is advisable to seek a professional’s second opinion and refrain from performing any maintenance until you are convinced that you are fully qualified to do so.
Lubricating Rollers and Springs
This task should never be performed alone and in fact, it is better to stay away from touching these parts of the garage door altogether. The garage door’s springs, rollers, and hinges occasionally require lubrication when they start to squeak or stick. White lithium grease in a spray bottle can be used for this, but it should only be done under close observation to prevent mishaps. Although it may seem like this task is very quick and easy, enlisting a professional support is the best way to make the lubrication process safe and smooth.
