Fall Garage Door Maintenance Tips to Get Ahead of Winter
Does the garage door not open as it did last spring? You put it in motion and are met with an odd squeak or a grinding noise? Then there is the worry that it will give out at the first sign of cold.
Valid concerns, and this fall you can put them to rest. We of Top Notch Garage Door have been in North Georgia since 2009; in our 10 plus years here the crew has put in well over 20 years in the garage door business between us. Give us a ring at (404) 390-2669 for some professional attention on your door before the season turns.
Garage doors do not like the cold. The metal will contract, grease gets thick and what was a minor issue all summer can be a major one in no time. Put in a bit of effort now and you will be spared the headache down the road.
The Case for Fall Maintenance
Consider that your garage door is the single largest moving piece in the house. In the course of a year it goes up and down thousands of times, putting its share of strain on the tracks, rollers, cables and springs. Drop in the temperature and you add to that stress.
Most do not give their garage door a thought until it is not working. A failed door on a frigid morning is more than a nuisance; it can strand your car in there and let the cold into the garage while the opener labours against stiff parts. A routine check in the fall will see your door remain reliable and quiet when it is coldest.
Some Basic Steps for the Homeowner
You need not have any special equipment to run through a fall checklist:
- Open and close the door and pay attention to any scraping or jerking
- See if the hinges or rollers are worn, loose or cracked
- Make sure the tracks are free of dents and debris
- Examine the cables for any that are fraying
- Check the bottom of the door for a weather seal with gaps or cracks
- Use a good lubricant on the moving metal
- Put an object in front of the door to test the auto-reverse
It should reverse upon contact. If it does not, leave it be and get a professional.
When to Call in the Pros
Training is required for certain components of a garage door. There is danger in handling the springs and cables, the most hazardous of the system; a spring can let go and injure you.
We would have a technician come out if you see any of the following:
- A spring with a gap or break in it
- Cables that are frayed or have snapped
- An opener that is uncharacteristically hesitant or reverses by itself
- A door off its track or hanging askew
- Any misalignment or bending in the tracks
We deal with cable and spring repair, and the like, on a daily basis. For the big names such as Amarr, Clopay, LiftMaster, Chamberlain and C.H.I., we have the parts on hand to service and replace your opener.
Considering a Replacement?
An old, dented or ill-insulated door may have had its day and be costing you in repairs. A new one could be wiser as winter approaches. We have styles to suit any home from premium wood and faux wood to the traditional and carriage house. Our online Garage Door Builder lets you put one together and see how it would look. We can also offer financing to ease the cost.
Be Prepared When the Cold Comes
From simple tune-ups to commercial overhead and new construction, we are the ones homeowners, property managers and contractors in Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Athens, Alpharetta, Smyrna, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw and the rest of the metro and North Georgia call on. We are an A+ rated company with the Better Business Bureau.
Winter can be unpredictable so we are here 24/7 for any emergency.
There is no reason to wait for a freeze to discover a problem with your door. Contact Top Notch Garage Door at (404) 390-2669 for an estimate without charge and face the winter confident in your garage door.