A little garage door maintenance will keep your Antioch garage door operating smoother, steadier and quieter longer

With some appropriate garage door
maintenance, this Antioch garage door will
work smoother, quieter and more reliably
longer.

It happened slowly and over time. It took so long, in fact, you almost don’t remember how the garage door at your Antioch home used to work. But, now, it’s gotten so bad you can’t help but notice.

Before, you’d hit the button on your garage door opener and, smooth and steady, the garage door would rise or descend. Now its motion is jerky, unsteady and, above all, loud. What has happened to your Antioch garage door and garage door opener?

Most likely, it’s not so much what has happened as what hasn’t happened. What hasn’t happened is that you probably haven’t done anything with your garage door other than to raise it or lower it when you wanted to enter and leave the garage.

The Universal Rule applies to garage doors, too

There is a universal rule – mechanical things require maintenance. And that includes your garage door.

Every time you use your garage door the movement loosens nuts and bolts that hold things together. The amount of tension in the garage door springs begin to change little by little. Grease and lubricant is lost. Belts and chains stretch. Joints that once fit tightly together lose their cohesion.

In the meantime, dirt and foreign particles are introduced into the mechanism. Moisture also launches an invasion of the mechanical parts of the garage door. The combined effects of these factors breakdown the ability of the garage door to operate the way it once operated.

When the garage door was new, and everything worked like a Swiss watch, the strain of operation was also minimized. But, as parts loosen, as dirt and moisture invade, as belts and chains stretch, the strain of operation is increased. This causes additional wear. Parts loosen even more rapidly. The garage door is on a path to an inevitable outcome.

That outcome is called breakage. Something gives under the strain. The belts, chains, hinges, springs, joints: something breaks and the garage door no longer works. Before that occurs, you’ve long-since noticed that the garage door is not smooth, steady and quiet.

Is your garage door trying to tell you something?

You might say that, when the garage door is loud, it’s trying to tell you something. It’s crying out for a little maintenance.

Garage door maintenance is not a big deal. Performed by a professional, it is sure to extend the life of your garage door and forestall that point where something breaks. In the process, garage door maintenance will save you money on expensive garage door repairs. And it will ensure that your Antioch garage door operates smoother, steadier and quieter than it otherwise would for a long time.

A garage door stuck open puts elder neighbor at risk

Lois is 79 years old and, except for her cats, Bitters and Mr. Boots, she lives alone. Her daughter, Brenda, lives in California and worries about her mother. She’s asked Lois to move out to California where she can stay at her daughter’s house but Lois prefers the independence of living on her own. Besides, all her friends are out here in the area.


When the subject comes up, Lois reassures Brenda that everything is fine. She even explains how the neighbors help out from time to time though the young men who moved in and are renting the house next door to the north don’t actually appear entirely reliable, having frequent parties and such. Still, Bob next door, on the south, has taken it on himself keep an eye out for Lois. He’s cut her grass once or twice and, the other day, he even raked her leaves in the front yard.


Bob doesn’t mind helping Lois when he has the chance. He says she reminds him of his own late mother. However, he works long hours and the actual opportunities to help are infrequent. Bob has his own family and his life is already busy.


One day recently, Bob was pulling out of his driveway on his way to work and glanced over at Lois’ house as he did many a day when pulling in or out of his driveway. He could tell that there was something wrong with this picture but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Later in the day, he overheard the foreman telling Kevin, a young coworker, to take the garbage out back to the dumpster. He heard the foreman say, “And don’t forget to close the door this time.” That’s when it struck Bob what was wrong over at Lois’ house; her garage door was wide open.


That the garage door was wide open wasn’t so surprising on occasion, but Bob realized that it had been that way all week. When he arrived home that evening, he noticed that it was still open. Bob walked over and knocked on the door.


When Lois came to the door, he asked her if there was something wrong with the garage door.


“The door is stuck,” said Lois. “I opened it the other day but it won’t come down again.”


Bob looked alarmed. It wasn’t just that the lawnmower, car and other items stored in the garage, including Lois’ deceased husband’s large assortment of power tools that someone could come in and walk away with; the problem was that the garage is attached to the house. If someone had access to the garage, they might have easy access to the house, too.


Bob went out to the garage with Lois and checked the garage door. He hoped it was something simple but nothing seemed to work. He just couldn’t get the garage door to come down again. And Lois was concerned that, if he did get the garage door down again, it might not go back up. “If it gets stuck down my car will be stuck in the garage,” she said.


Realizing that he couldn’t fix the garage door there and then, Bob went and checked the door inside the garage that led to the house. As he suspected, the door was unlocked.


“Boy, you really have to lock this door until we can get the garage door fixed,” he said to Lois.


“Oh, that’s a good idea,” she said. “I didn’t think of that.”


Bob then told Lois that he knows someone who works with garage doors. “I’ll give him a call this evening and ask him to come out,” Bob said.


The next day, the garage door technician came out and discovered a problem with the wiring. Within half an hour, he had the garage door working just fine again. He also checked the operation of the garage door and garage door opener and lubricated the guides and hinges.

When Bob came home from work the next day, he noticed that the garage door was still open. He went over and knocked on the front door again.


When Lois came to the door she explained, “Oh yes, he was out here this morning. I went to the store a while ago and didn’t close the door yet because I’m going to meet some friends for cards this evening.”


Bob was glad to hear that the garage door was back in working order. “I’m sure your daughter will be happy to hear the garage door is working right again,” he said.


“Oh no,” said Lois. “I think it’s better that I don’t tell her anything about it. She’ll just get all worried all over again.”

Maintenance is good for your vehicle and it’s good for your garage door and garage door opener, too

Hopefully, you do a good job of maintaining your car, SUV or pickup truck. If you do, it probably rewards you by running well and not breaking down often, if at all. But, if you don’t maintain that expensive vehicle it can rebel cause a serious pain in the wallet, as well as other places.

It’s surprising, however, how many people who are diligent about maintaining their car, SUV or pickup truck have no idea that their garage door and garage door opener deserve the same kind of diligent maintenance.

With your car, SUV or pickup truck, maintenance starts with oil changes, rotating the tires, checking the belts and hoses, winterizing the vehicle when winter approaches and preparing the vehicle for summer when winter is over.

With your garage door, maintenance includes oiling the hinges, rollers and tracks. It also includes looking for damaged rubber gaskets and seals, checking for gaps in the springs and gunpowder-like residue near the hinges.

Maintaining the garage door opener includes checking wire connections for corrosion, checking the force adjustments and the alignment of the beams and safety eyes. Checking the force adjustments is crucial since this is more than just a matter of extending the life of smooth operation of the garage door; it’s also a safety matter.

If the force adjustment is not set right, if the garage door comes down on the car, it could damage the car rather than reversing course as designed. And if it comes down on someone’s head, such as a youngster, it could cause injury because the force adjustment isn’t set correctly.

Have a dent or scratch in your car because the garage door opener wasn’t set right is maddening. Having someone you care about hurt because the settings are wrong is beyond maddening.

If someone maintains their vehicle, not only will they avoid breakdowns, they’ll also save money on the cost of operating their car, SUV or pickup truck. Maintenance will extend the life of the engine and other mechanical parts of the vehicle. And those unnecessary repairs are often costly.

The same holds true for the garage door and garage door opener. If you maintain your garage door and garage door opener you’ll have years of trouble-free service from them. If not, you’ll spend money you wouldn’t otherwise have to spend.

Inspecting your Antioch Garage Door is a very good idea that could save you money

It can pay dividends for Antioch homeowners to inspect their garage doors. 
It can also ensure that the garage doors operate safely.

To maintain safety and effectiveness of your Antioch garage door and your garage door opener, it is recommended that you conduct regular, routine inspections. Most homeowners can do this themselves. If you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself, or you are uncertain what to look for, don’t hesitate to call in a trusted garage door professional. They can perform this service on your behalf. However, this guide should help you conduct your own inspection.

The best time to do an inspection in Antioch is during the warmer months. It’s simply not as convenient in the winter when the weather can make it uncomfortable for you while affecting the way the garage door operates. Perform this as you handle your annual maintenance of oiling and lubing the garage door assembly, another good idea mentioned in an earlier article. Doing this once a year suffices unless performance of the garage door falters, or noises give you cause for concern.

Key things to check in a garage door inspection:

• Look for gunpowder-like residue near hinges
• Check for cracked or damaged rubber parts and seals
• Check for gaps in springs
• Check the balance of the garage door
• Check force adjustments
• Check beams and safety eyes
• Don’t worry – below you’ll find an explanation of the points above.

A black powdery residue that looks like gunpowder will appear just below the hinges when something wears excessively. This indicates that something no longer works properly and is wearing down the metal parts. This is a situation where it is absolutely better to contact a professional.

Flexibility matters with the rubber parts in your garage door assembly, such as the seals along the bottom and sides of your garage door. If they feel hard or brittle, they need to be replaced. Wear and replacement of this part is a normal process. Most homeowners can do this repair themselves.

As springs get worn, you will notice gaps in the spring. This means that they need to be replaced. This is more noticeable on extension springs than on torsion springs. However, even a worn garage door spring is loaded with enough pressure to seriously hurt someone who doesn’t know how to replace the spring. CONTACT A PROFESSIONAL garage door technician for anything to do with your garage door springs.

Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on how to check the force adjustments.

Most of the garage door and garage door opener repairs found during these inspections can be handled by a homeowner. If anything feels too hard or if it is something you just don't want to deal with, once again, call a garage door professional.

These repairs are better handled by a professional to ensure safety and performance:

• Spring replacement
• Adjusting spring tension
• Door balancing
• Resetting force adjustment

Routine garage door and garage door opener inspections can increase the effectiveness and safety of garage door operation and help reduce utility costs in Northern Illinois. In the process, you can extend the life of the garage door and garage door opener.

Garage Doors are designed to reverse direction – you should check your Antioch garage door’s reversal function

Homeowners in Antioch should check the reversal function of their garage door opener about once a month. That may seem excessive as, for most people, once the garage door is setup, they assume they can forget it. Considering that this is the most crucial safety feature of your garage door, a feature than can prevent your child or pet from being crushed, it’s not something to take lightly.

All garage doors have bolts at the top and bottom that are set to prevent them from crashing into the floor or the header. But, these bolts are the last resort, not the preferred method to stop for the motion of your Antioch garage door. Mechanically, limits are set. When the garage door reaches these limits it stops. When these limits aren’t functioning properly, the garage door reaches the bolts putting more wear on the garage door and the garage door opener.

When testing the reversal function of your garage door, check the movement up and down. You should reverse the garage door’s motion if you encounter resistance in either direction.

Testing your garage door’s reversal function is fairly easy

To test the downward reversal:

• Set a 2X4 stud flat on the floor below the door (to ensure that your door can reach about an inch and a half from the floor for this test).
• Use your remote to close the door.
• When the door reaches the board, it should reverse and start going back up.

To test the upward reversal:

• Close the garage door.
• Grab hold of the handle and push your remote to open the garage door while holding down on the handle.
• The garage door will start to rise.
• Once it encounters enough resistance from your grip on the handle, it will reverse and return to its closed position.
• The normal amount resistance required to trigger the reversal function is about 10 pounds of pressure.
•  If you want greater safety, you can change the setting to about five pounds of pressure.

These tests apply to both mechanical and electric garage door openers. If you have an electric garage door opener, you can test the reversal function anywhere in the raising and lowering cycle. The system checks the amount of pressure through the entire movement of the garage door. Five to 10 pounds of pressure, depending on your settings, will be enough to reverse the movement of the garage door.

Refer to your manual for instructions on how to set the reversal limit. If it is unclear or you feel uncomfortable with the process, contact a garage door professional for help.

Remember to do this on a regular basis - at least once a month - to keep your garage door safe for you, your children and your pets.

Should you put windows in your garage door?

So, the years have finally caught up with your garage door. Bailing wire and patch-work repairs only go so far. At some point, you had to call in a professional. And they’ve presented you with the bad news; your garage door isn’t really worth the expense of additional repairs. It’s time for a new garage door.

Once you’ve decided to replace the garage door you’ll find yourself faced with another decision – what style of garage door do you want? Within this question is another question – do you want garage door windows?

In terms of the style of garage door, cost and quality generally go hand in hand. Garage door windows are a slight upgrade, too, and with a small additional cost. But, there are good reasons to install a garage door with windows, such as:

• The garage door windows will add natural lighting inside the garage
• Garage door windows are usually aesthetically pleasing
• They can give the garage a look that is coordinated with the appearance of the house

Garage doors are generally made of wood, metal of Polypropylene. They come insulated or un-insulated. They come with windows or without windows.

When adding a garage door with garage door windows, you may want to take some time to consider where you’ll install them. Yes, in the garage door but where in the garage door? If privacy is an issue, which is often the case with garages, you may want garage door windows higher in the garage door so that most people can’t see inside. You don’t want them to see your expensive tools, the air compressor or your boat, motorcycle or RV. The wrong people might get ideas.

Once you’ve decided where to install the garage door windows, you’ll want to consider the size and number of garage door windows. You’ll also want to consider the style of glass. For instance, you can install garage door windows with the following styles of glass:

• Clear
• Tinted
• Frosted
• Divided with a Grid (there are different Grid patterns to choose from)
• Stained Glass
• Sand-Blasted
• Contoured

Adding garage door windows to the garage door will usually raise the cost of the door. However, windows can add a lot to a garage door and the aesthetic appeal of the garage. Since you’ll probably live with that garage door for a while you may find that it’s worth the expense. And, with the options listed above, you’ll also find you have a lot of options, to do a lot, with your garage door.

Screen-in your garage – the quick and easy screened-in-porch alternative

Beau, of Garage Doors and More, installs the finishing touches on a customer's new garage screen.

Driving home one day you find yourself jealously looking at neighbors a few blocks away who are relaxing in their screened-in porch. You can’t really see but you imagine them sipping tall, cool drinks with umbrellas. The sight may sufficiently motivate you to make some calls to area builders to find out what it would cost to add a screened-in porch to your home. Dialing the phone, you have sense of enthusiasm. Now you can picture yourself with that Mai Tai, Banana Daiquiri or Bahama Mama – something cool and refreshing. Then, the builder gives you the bad news.

“IT’S GOING TO COST HOW MUCH?” you holler reflexively, and then you go back to enviously glancing at the neighbor’s screened-in porch.

The idea dies a slow death as you stack the cost up against other priorities. But, wait just a minute. Put that idea on life support for a while. There is another way to save this worthy patient; turn your garage into your summer-time screened-in porch.

“WHAT?”

What's a screened garage
without easy access?

No, this isn’t silly nonsense from the desperate files of a lover of summer. This is a real and cost-effective alternative to a screened-in porch that could easily run more than $20,000.

The premise is simple and the tools readily available; you simply need to install a removable screen in the large opening of the garage where cars otherwise move in and out.

Yes, you may have a little additional work to do, such as cleaning out the garage and making it hospitable for summer lounging.  And the screen does need to be properly sized and properly installed.

You can purchase some patio furniture and a small rug to cover where the oil has dripped from the car. You might even want to purchase some potted plants to decorate the garage and bring the stereo out there so you can relax to the mellow sounds of Jimmy Buffett singing “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Without too much effort, you can probably build a small bar or purchase a portable bar and a small refrigerator. A little tactically applied lighting and you’re in business. Of course, if you need a little help with the project, a garage-door professional can probably help you with the installation. But, either way, there’s no need to look on with envy at your neighbor’s screened-in porch when yours is waiting out in the garage. In fact, once they see how easily, and cost effectively, you’ve turned your garage into a screened-in porch, they may be the ones driving by and looking on enviously.

Inside view after this garage receives the screened-in treatment.

View of the screened-in garage from the outside.