|
|
|
Chesapeake Overhead Garage Doors | Garage Door Repair
|
|
There are a few things you can do to extend the useful life and convenience of your garage door system. A little annual maintenance goes a long way! We offer maintenance and repairs for overhead garage doors in Chesapeake, VA and the surrounding areas.
|
Garage Door - Recommended maintenance and checks
Garage door - Periodic cleaning, scratch repair
Garage door - Painting/Repainting
Garage door - Warnings
Garage door operator - Maintenance
Garage door operator - Remotes/Keyless entry
Garage Door - Recommended maintenance and checks
This information is general information that is included in most garage door owner's manuals. The particular manufacturer referenced in this section recommends these maintenance activities be carried out twice per year.
1-- Lubricate the moving parts on the garage door, including the torsion spring, with regular grade machine oil. (WD-40 with the little straw works well too)
2-- Check for loose or missing fasteners in the garage door hinges. If you find any, re-set or replace them.
3-- Check all the moving parts for signs of wear. If the cable is frayed, have it replaced.
4-- Check door and track supports for proper spacing and alignment.
5-- Check balance of door (disconnect operator first)
6-- Check for proper seal at header, sides, and floor. (Remember there has to be clearance for the door to move)
7-- Check that all warning labels and tags are in place.
Do not lubricate tracks - they do not move.
Back to Top
Garage door - Periodic cleaning, scratch repair
Use a mild detergent to wash your door - do not use abrasive cleaners. While cleaning, check for small scratches and repair with touch up paint. If bare metal is exposed, treat with a zinc-based primer. It has been our experience that if touch-up is done as minimally as possible, in a stippled fashion, scratches can be virtually hidden. If you apply a lot of touch-up paint, the repair becomes quite visible, as the color lots are not likely to be identical. If you live in a harsh environment, such as the oceanfront, where your door is subject to "sandblasting" and salt corrosion, you should wash and wax your door as you would a car. Your neighbors might think it silly, but your door's paint finish will last longer.
Back to Top
Garage door - Painting/Repainting
Before painting, wash the surface thoroughly with TSP (trisodium phosphate), then lightly buff the surface with extra-fine steel wool. A preferred alternative is to find a deglosser product in the hardware or paint store. Avoid solvents, mineral spirits can be used. Repair any areas of rust or bare metal and apply a zinc-based primer. Paint with premium oil base or latex exterior paint. Test for adhesion in a small area. We have found that two thin coats with a roller is the fastest and smoothest way to apply paint. Do not allow paint to build up under the vinyl doorstop. If you have questions about painting, seek advice from a paint specialist, rather than a department store mixer. These instructions are for CHI steel doors only. For vinyl, fiberglass, or wood doors, see your manual; overlay products and those with manufactured materials have specific paint color and type requirements that vary by manufacturer. If you have a custom wood door that was installed by Hobbs Door in Chesapeake, it was treated with WoodLife immediately following installation.
Back to Top
Garage door - Warnings
Never place your fingers in or near section joints while the door is moving.
Do not stand directly in the path of a moving door, or walk through the door opening while the door is moving.
If you make adjustments or repairs to the door, be sure you have the proper tools and instructions and a thorough understanding of the entire door assembly and its operation.
All spring components - whether part of the spring line, attached to the door, or attached to the wall are under tension and can be extremely dangerous. Do not remove red bolts or bolts on bottom brackets and spring supports while the spring is under tension.
If a manually operated door becomes electrically operated, pull ropes must be removed and lock must be removed or disabled.
Back to Top
Garage door operator - Maintenance
Your garage door operator is likely the most neglected appliance in your house. But it, like any other electrical device, needs a little care now and then. The following information is taken from a belt drive operator manual, and is general in nature. See your specific operator's manual for complete maintenance information. We offer overhead garage door repairs and more.
ONCE PER MONTH - Manually operate the door. It should not be unbalanced or binding. Check to be sure the door opens and closes fully. Adjust the force limits if necessary. (Weather conditions may necessitate adjustment) Perform the safety reverse test, and make adjustments on any operator that fails. ONCE PER YEAR - perform door maintenance before operator testing. We would add that the internal gear needs to be lubricated about every 7500 door cycles with a lithium lubricant if on visual inspection it appears dry.
Back to Top
Garage door operator - Remotes/Keyless entry
Do not leave a remote control in a parked, unlocked car. It is just like a key to your house. Don't leave the remote in a car parked in direct sun. If you carry a remote in a purse, it may accidentally activate while the bag is moving. Don't use addresses or birthday information for keyless entry codes. If your keyless entry numeric buttons show signs of wear, change your passcode to prevent someone from easily figuring out your access code. When your keyless was installed, the installer usually uses a 4 digit code. You can use more digits if you like, but the code must contain at least 4 digits. If your keyless or remote doesn't work, check the battery before calling for service. Batteries last for approximately 5 years in remotes, and 2 year in keyless entries. If your child depends on the keyless entry to enter the house after school, change the batteries when you change smoke detector batteries.
Back to Top
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
