How to Inspect Your Garage Door
Numerous injuries occur each year due to garage doors. From pinched fingers to cuts on broken window glass, some reports estimate 30,000 injuries annually. One of the most crucial tasks you can do to protect your property and the people you love is to conduct a regular safety inspection of your garage door.
Garage Door Safety Checklist
ADCO Garage Doors has developed this guide to help you confidently make a thorough garage door inspection. Spend 15 to 20 minutes once or twice each year inspecting your door by following these steps.
1. Check the Photo Eye Sensors
Put an object on the garage floor tall enough to block the light’s path between the sensors — about 6 inches. Press the button to close the door. The garage door shouldn’t respond. If it does begin closing, clean the sensors and try again. If the door still starts to close, it’s time to call for repairs.
2. Check the Auto-Reverse Function
Start with the garage door open and center a box or piece of wood in the opening without blocking the sensors. Stand out of the door’s path before pressing the close button. Once it reaches the obstacle, the door should automatically reverse. Consult with a garage door professional if that doesn’t happen.
3. Inspect the Functional Components
Carefully look at the major components, including:
- Garage door: Check that the handles are operable and the door is balanced — it should stay halfway open when you release it midway in manual mode. Schedule repairs if it falls to the ground.
- Springs: Ensure springs appear damage-free and aren’t sagging. You can lubricate them if they squeak, but sagging and persistent noise require expert help.
- Pulleys and lifting cables: Check for indications of wear and tear, such as corrosion, fraying or sagging. Call a professional for help because trying to replace these cables yourself can be hazardous.
- Track and rollers: Inspect the garage door’s track for rust and the rollers for signs of wear and tear — steel rollers tend to bend over time, while nylon ones may show cracking or chipping. You can remove any grit or debris in the track’s path, but contact a garage door repair company to help replace tracks or rollers.
- Hinges and brackets: Ensure these elements are firmly attached to the wall and don’t show warping or signs of significant wear. Replacing these is best left to a professional.
- Small hardware: Look for signs of loose or missing bolts or screws. Tighten and replace them if necessary.
Contact ADCO Garage Doors for Expert Services
Your garage door is the heaviest and largest moving object in your home, so safe and efficient operation is vital. ADCO can provide peace of mind with a complete professional inspection and expert maintenance and repair services.
Please request an appointment online or call us at 305-885-8836 for help.