You have scoured the online market searching for the best garage door prices and features, and now that you have found the perfect garage door, you cannot help but be happy and contented. Sounds like a happy ending? Not really. You would think that once you have the perfect garage door that is already the end of it. Wrong. Having a garage door, even if it is one that has the highest kind of quality, requires proper care and maintenance. A routine checkup is necessary to ensure that the door is kept in top working condition. While most problems and troubleshooting should be done by a professional, routine checkup is something that you can perform with little difficulty. Here are some of the things you need to check occasionally. Examine the springs Many of the garage doors used in homes today rely on big and thick springs for closing and opening. These springs can be mounted either above the opening or beside the roller tracks. Inspect this part of the garage door and see if there is any evident sign of wear and tear. You can also examine if the springs are making squeaking noises by trying to open and close the door. If they give off a squeaking sound, you can apply a lubricant to alleviate this problem. But if this does not solve the problem, it means that old springs already want to retire and are looking for a replacement. Have a professional repair or replace the worn-out springs. Doing this yourself is not safe. Check for worn-out cables This type of door may have metal cables connecting the springs to the bottom of the door on each side. Examine if the cables are already frayed. If they are, have a professional repair this as soon as possible. Do not procrastinate on calling up a repair person because if the cables eventually break (and they surely will), this can cause serious injuries. Find if there are any loose brackets The brackets are connected to the cables on both sides of the door. These brackets endure a lot of pressure when opening and closing the door. Make it a habit to examine these brackets to ensure that they are still firmly attached to the door. If not, call up the repair person immediately. Never attempt to tighten or adjust the brackets yourself as this can be dangerous. Not to mention, most modern garage doors today come with tamper-resistant brackets to prevent unauthorized adjustments from non-professionals. Test the emergency reverse feature Most garage doors today like TM60 come with an emergency reverse feature that reverts the door to its original position when it comes in contact with a certain object. Test its effectiveness occasionally by placing a board of wood on the door path, if it does not revert back, you would need to contact the dealer of the garage door or a professional to have it repaired. Routine checkup on doors is necessary and practical. You need to do it to ensure security and safety. And it is also practical because fixing defects immediately will prevent further damage. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4459417
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In the past 20 years, legislation has made garage doors less likely to crush people or things that get in the way of its descent, but over 30,000 garage door related accidents per year make it clear that these large rolling devices can still be hazardous. Most of the problems result from safety equipment failure, broken springs or cables, or human error. To avoid becoming a statistic, exercise caution with your garage door, help your family stay safe, and know when to call a professional for repair and maintenance. Safety Equipment Failure Early legislation required the doors have safety reversing methods and light beams or other sensors that stop the door or reverse it if anything is in its way. This legislation, passed in response to over 85 child deaths, does not make a garage door or its safety features failsafe. Assuming that the safety devices were properly installed on doors by manufacturers, the safety measures can fail as the door gets old, falls out of adjustment, or wears out. Spring Or Cable Failure Regardless of safety measures, the overhead door is a large piece of equipment that weighs hundreds of pounds. Its up and down motion occurs on a track and operates on the principle of a counterbalance system, which means that a force offsets the door's weight. In a typical door, it is the springs that provide force. If they or the cables that attach them to the door fail, the door comes crashing down while the loose spring or cables snap out of control. Human Error As the door moves up and down, it can be an attractive nuisance that dares people to try to get in and out before the door comes down. Even adults play "chicken" and try to get their car in or out before the door closes. Kids love to play with the buttons that are mounted on the wall of the garage and with the remotes. They even enjoy hanging on the door and putting the fingers in the tracks. Bottom line: The garage door is not a toy. Keeping Your Family Safe From Garage Door Hazards Here are a few safety rules that will keep you in your family safe. 1. If you have an old door opener, it's time to shop for new one. Basic safety features and a lot more come with even the cheapest current models. 2. Instruct your kids to stay away from wall buttons, remotes, and escape levers. If they are in the area when the garage door is going up and down, instruct them to stay away from the door. 3. Follow your own advice and respect the overhead door. It is not an adult toy either. 4. Inspect the door, verify that nuts and bolts are tight, and lubricate the springs with silicone lubricants. Better yet, call in the pros for annual maintenance or if you notice anything in need of repair. 5. Test the safety features by placing a 2x4 board flat under the garage door and activate the opener. If the door does not stop before hitting the board and then reverse itself, adjust the down limit screw and retest. Call for service if you're not successful in making this feature work consistently. 6. Make sure your door operates smoothly without hanging up and stays in a partly open position. If it doesn't, your door can be off balance or off track. This is not the place to flex your DIY muscles; call for professional service to make sure safety and accuracy are in place. 7. If you suspect a problem with the springs, call in the professionals. Spring failure leads to many of the accidents reported yearly, as the spring force in a garage door is equal to its weight. Having an automatic garage door opener offers protection from the cold, plus safety, security, and convenience. If you keep it in good condition and refrain from taking unnecessary chances, you will find it both a safe and useful asset to your home. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8445676 |