Garage door safety and maintenance should be taken very seriously. Below are some tips to conduct a garage door safety check yourself.
Garage Door Safety Tips
It is important to ensure that your photo eye safety sensors are ready to protect your family, therefore you should check the following on a regular basis:
- Check the sides of the garage door for properly installed photo eyes (black sensor units) mounted no more than 6 inches off the floor.
- Block one of the photo eyes with an object over 6 inches tall, and press the garage door opener’s close button. In this case, the door should not close.
Garage Door Maintenance Tips
1- Lubricate the Moving Parts
Keep your garage door parts greased up, as this can add years of proper operation to your system. Use white lithium grease on the opener’s chain or screw, and a spray lubricant (such as ‘Liquid Wrench’ brand) to coat the overhead springs.
2- Examine and ‘Refresh’ Your Garage Door
Don’t forget to examine the door itself. Wood doors need to be checked for water damage and warp, and chipped and peeling paint. Steel doors may have rust spots that need to be sanded, primed and painted. Wash your garage door regularly with a mild all-purpose cleaner.
3- Replace the Weather Seal and Bottom Rubber
Take a look at the weather seal stripping on the sides and bottom of your garage door. If it is cracked or broken, it can be replaced to keep the elements and critters out of your garage.