3 tips to maintaining an electric garage door


Electric garage doors come with many benefits, including convenience, added security, increased value for your property and lower risk of injury than opening a manual door. In order to keep these benefits and get the most out of it, your garage door requires regular maintenance. Here are three maintenance tips and solutions to common problems to help you keep your electric garage door in good condition.

Erosion

To protect your garage door from erosion caused by poor weather, UV sun rays, dirt and debris, try to clean your door as often as you clean your car. Wash it with clean water using a cloth at least every six months. Avoid using cleaning detergents as the chemical reactions can damage your door. If you live in an area with many factories, a dense population or salty air, your door will benefit from more frequent washing to keep it in good condition. If you spot any stains that could be stubborn to remove, such as bird droppings, clean them off immediately so that they don't eat into the door's paintwork.  

Sticking door

If your garage door isn't opening smoothly anymore, it may require lubricating. Consult your manufacturer's guidelines before attempting this. If you have a roller door, dampen a cloth with methylated spirits and use this to polish the internal guide tracks. This will remove any dirt or moisture and provide the tracks with a protective layer that will resist any debris it comes into contact with in the future. Steel hinges should be rubbed with an all-purpose machine oil for lubrication. If you're having problems with plastic hinges, try using a silicon spray on them to aid movement.  

Door safety

Your electric garage door will have sensors and an automatic function that means if it comes into contact with something when closing, such as your car, a bike or someone walking underneath, it will go back up. For safety purposes, you should check this function regularly, and you could combine this check with washing the door. Place a roll of paper towels or something similar beneath the door and see if the door retracts when it hits the roll. If it doesn't retract, or if you're finding the door begins to retract when there is no obstacle, there may be a problem with the sensors.

The sensors should be located at each side of the door opening. Make sure the sensors are clean and remove any cobwebs or dirt with a soft cloth. If your door is still not working properly, loosen the nuts holding the sensors up enough so that you can manipulate them. Adjust both sensors in increments until the power indicator lights on each come on. Remember to tighten up the nuts again to keep the sensors secure. If your door is still not working properly, call your local manufacturer and seek a professional for guidance.

About Me

Megan's Home Improvement Blog

Hello! Are you interested in home improvement? If so, you are in the right place. My name is Megan and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I should probably explain that I am not a professional home improvement contractor. I am just someone who wanted to improve the space in which they live and who had to learn all kinds of crazy new skills to do so. Thankfully, my dad and my brother are both expert DIY guys, so they gave me a lot of help and support during the renovation project. I love my home now and I want to help others to love theirs.

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