Garage & Overhead Door Maintenance Tips

1. Replace worn out garage door springs: your garage door springs may be the most important and most dangerous part of your garage door. When they break or wear out you can be injured. If your garage door is old, you should have the springs inspected by C & D’s highly trained techs. If deemed necessary. We can replace them for you. If your door has two springs you should replace both. If your door has one spring we convert it to a double spring set-up. This will give it better balance and prevent an emergency when one breaks.
2. Check your cables: make it a habit to visually inspect the cables that attach the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the door. If these cables are frayed or worn, they are in danger of breaking, which can cause injury. Due to the dangers associated with high spring tension, these cables should be replaced only by a trained technician.
3. Squeaky springs: springs can squeak and be noisy. This is caused by normal use and does not necessarily mean that you have a problem. Before calling C & D, try a spray lubricant that is recommended specifically for garage doors. If the noise remains, call C & D for service.
4. Safety cables: if your garage door has extension springs, you need a safety cable that runs through the spring and secures to the wall or ceiling at each end. When your garage door is down, extension springs are under high tension. If the spring breaks, it can cause injury. A safety cable can keep that broken spring contained. If you have extension springs, but do not have a safety cable, call C & D for a safety inspection.
5. Is your garage door having trouble going up and down smoothly? If yes, the door could pose a safety risk. Doors old and new should operate smoothly. This could mean that you have an out-of-balance spring system. This can cause wear and tear on other important door parts. Spring systems are dangerous and should be repaired only by trained professional from C & D Garage.
6. Keep your fingers away the door sections! They can pinch and cause serious harm to your hands and body. If you manually open or close the door, use the handles or the safe gripping points.
7. Tamper resistant brackets: since the bottom brackets on a garage door are connected to the door’s springs, these brackets are under extreme tension. They should be adjusted or loosened only by a C & D technician. Many manufacturers now include tamper resistant hardware that prevents loosening of the brackets by a novice.
8. Don’t use an old track on a new door. If you purchase a replacement garage door do not use the old track, as it might not fit with the new garage door. The track and sections work together as a system. For maximum performance and long life, you should use the track that is designed for your specific door.
9. Regular service form C & D: your garage door is probably the largest moving part in your home and is typically used every day. Over time, parts can wear out and break, creating potential safety problems. Although you should provide monthly safety checks and maintenance to your garage door system, an annual visit from a C & D technician can keep your door operating safely and smoothly for a long time.
10. Your owner’s manual: keep the garage door and opener manuals hanging near the door for easy reference. Every model of door and opener has specific safety instructions unique to that model.

Force setting test
Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force setting may be excessive and need adjusting. See your owner’s manual for details on how to make the adjustment.

Additional safety devices
Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety devices, such as photo eyes or edge sensors, to protect against entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices will not make an old opener meet the current UL standards. Make sure the additional safety devices are properly installed and adjusted (see owner’s manual).

Monthly maintenance checklist

• Garage door opener tests: reversal test, force setting test, additional safety devices
• Garage door visual inspection: springs, rollers, pulleys, cables and track lubrication, door balance.
• Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the lift cable and are under extreme tension.
• Visual inspection: look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems, have a qualified person make repairs.
• Lubrication: regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. However, do not lubricate plastic parts such as plastic rollers and plastic idler bearings. Consult the door owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation.
• Door balance: periodically test the balance of your door. Start with the door closed. If you have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism so you can operate the door by hand when doing this test.
• You should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little resistance. It should stay open around three to four feet above the floor. If it does not, it is out of adjustment. Have it adjusted by a C & D technician

Garage door springs, cables, brackets and other hardware attached to the springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically experienced person carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions should adjust them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust torsion springs yourself.

A restraining cable or other device should be installed on the extension spring (the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring if it breaks.

At C & D Garage Doors we lift away your door troubles!