Garage door owners in search of useful advice should take a look at the following tips. Our experts took the time to jot down some suggestions that can help you make sure you get the most out of your system.
Always keep your connecting door locked
We're referring to the door that connects your garage to the rest of your house. You should always make sure that it's locked. If you have small children, this will prevent them from getting into your garage when you're not looking. Many people keep gardening tools and other sharp objects there, which can pose a risk to young kids. Also, if a burglar would manage to get past your garage door, by keeping the connecting door locked you may be able to prevent them from getting into the rest of your house.
Don't neglect to have your door checked
If you accidently bumped a panel with your car, but you don't really see any significant damage, that doesn't mean some other part of the garage door hasn't been affected. This is an intricate mechanism, and problems may not be visible at a glance. Make sure to give your door a thorough once over, and try and open and close it a couple of times to make sure it's working correctly. If you suddenly become aware of new, strange noises, have one of our experts take a look.
Test your opener's force limit at least twice a year
This is an important task because it will let you know whether or not your door will reverse if it encounters resistance while closing. Place a short block of wood or a tall barstool under the open door in a way that doesn't disturb the safety sensors. Now close the door using the opener and see if it reverses as soon as it touches the object. If it doesn't, then the opener's force limit switch needs to be adjusted.
Sand down your garage door before repainting it
The paint covering a wooden garage door contributes to its presentability, and also helps to protect its panels from the elements. Check the surface of your door to ensure the paint isn't cracked or flaky. If it is, you will need to sand the area down so that it is very smooth before applying it with a new coat of paint. Painting over a grainy surface will cause the new layer to degrade much faster than it otherwise would.