A garage door is the largest moving piece of equipment in a home. Daily, it moves hundreds of pounds of steel each time it is opened or closed. A garage door’s dependable operation is one of many household conveniences that is often taken for granted. With the push of a button, the garage door is expected to cooperate obligingly. Typically, the time it breaks down and fails to respond correctly is not the most convenient time. It tends to occur on a Sunday afternoon, during a blizzard, or late at night when the outside lights are not on.
The most common causes of breakdowns or malfunctions include broken springs and cables, roller wear, garage door opener malfunctioning, and hinge and hardware failure. A garage door with a broken spring or the incorrect spring strength can fail. At three hundred pounds, a free-falling garage door is life-threatening. The springs, cables, bottom brackets, and spring anchor plates are all under immense tension. Serious injury and even death can occur if parts under tension are removed or tampered with. The homeowner can get help with Garage Doors Parts in Chicago, at Robert’s Garage Door Professionals of Chicago.
The importance of annual inspections by garage door repair specialists cannot be overstated. With hundreds of moving parts involved in the operation of a garage door and its opener at stake, the experience of these highly trained individuals in spotting potential issues can potentially save money down the road. As part of an inspection, the technician will lubricate, realign, calibrate and tighten the garage door. They will also inspect the springs, rollers and pulleys, and the cables will be checked for fraying and wear.
Any garage door equipped with an opener should be tested each month. The opener’s balance, reverse mechanism, and photo eye all should be scrutinized. For the balance test, close the garage door and disconnect the opener. The door should lift smoothly, with minimal resistance, and should remain open. The reverse mechanism test involves laying a piece of wood, such as a 2×4, on the ground in the area where the garage door normally hits the floor. When the door touches the wood, it should reverse. Most garage door companies provide 24/7 service to homeowners in the event of an emergency or when concerns about the safety of their garage doors arise. Visit Robert’s Garage Door Professionals of Chicago website to know more.
