Winter Is Over: 3 Steps To Get Your Garage Door Opener Ready For Summer
Now that winter is just about over, it's time to get your home ready for summer. Part of that preparation includes providing maintenance for your garage door opener. During the winter months, your garage door was exposed to freezing temperatures. Operating under those conditions can wreak havoc on your garage door opener. Luckily, with proper maintenance, your garage door can overcome those harsh circumstances in time for the warm weather. To get your garage door opener ready for summer, here are three steps you should take for proper maintenance.
Clean the Tracks
In order to work properly, your garage door requires clean tracks. However, during the winter, it can be too cold to give the thorough cleaning they require. As a result, dirt, grease and gunk can build up on the tracks. Unfortunately, all that buildup can make it difficult for your garage door to open and close effectively. To clean them, you'll need a bucket of warm water, grease-cutting dish soap, a scrub brush, and a clean cloth. Use your scrub brush to scrub the entire length of tracks on each side of the garage door. Wipe the tracks off with the clean cloth to remove the dirt and soap. For best results, you should clean your tracks at least once a year.
Lubricate the Movable Parts
Your garage door opener consists of several movable parts, including the gears inside the motor and the chain pulley that moves the door. In order to operate properly, those moveable parts need to be adequately lubricated. Without adequate lubrication, the moveable parts will seize up and the engine will overheat. If that happens, your garage door opener will malfunction, resulting in the need for costly repairs. Before summer arrives, apply a generous amount of gear oil to the gears inside the engine. Next, lubricate the chain pulley with a water-soluble spray lubricant.
Conduct Safety Inspection
Now that the cold weather has left, it's time to make sure that your garage door opener's safety mechanisms are still operational. The first thing you should do is place a large piece of wood on the ground, in the path of the garage door. Push the button to close the door. Check to make sure that the garage door stops, and reverses, once it comes in contact with the wood. This safety feature is designed to prevent crushing accidents.
Finally, you'll need to test the obstruction sensor. The obstruction sensor is designed to stop the garage door when the beam is broken. Push the button to start your garage door. Next, wave a broom stick in front of the obstruction beam. The garage door should stop immediately. If your garage door fails either of these safety tests, unplug the unit and call a repair technician. Visit websites like http://unifourdoorsystems.com to learn more.