Amazing maintenance services for Clopay garage doors
Get one step closer to better garage door and opener performance by going over our professional tips page. They cover various important aspects. Read the instructions carefully and follow them precisely to achieve the best possible result.
Take action to troubleshoot a noisy opener right away
If the noise comes from the drive chain, it will need lubrication. If it is dirty, it should be cleaned with a safe solvent in the first place. It is best to use a lubricant that was recommended or approved by the manufacturer of the device. If the motor unit makes any grinding sounds, the main gear is most probably broken and should be replaced straight away.
Test the garage door balance at least twice a year
Disconnect the opener and lift the door until it is halfway open. Release the unit carefully and observe what happens. If the door stays in place, it is perfectly balanced. If it shoots up or drops down, the torsion spring has either too much or too little tension. It should be adjusted accurately right away to restore the balance.
Watch out for signs of trouble with the cables
If they are frayed, you will hear some very annoying scraping sounds while the garage door is opening and closing (run a quick inspection to confirm this). Frayed cables should be replaced timely; otherwise they will break and cause the door to get jammed. Snapped cables require immediate replacement. As the door hangs on one side, it can easily go off track and cause further damage to the hardware.
Get a bottom seal retainer installed
The seal helps to prevent rainwater from getting in direct contact with the bottom garage door panel and causing damage. It helps to improve insulation as well. The retainer allows for easy installation and replacement of the seal and this is a major advantage to have. Ideally, it should be made from aluminum which is strong and naturally resistant to rust and corrosion.
Check the tracks if the garage door reverses instead of closing
There could be a pebble stuck in one of the tracks. Open the door fully, disconnect the opener and remove the obstruction carefully without the use of sharp metal tools. If there is no obstruction, but one of the tracks is bent, have it repaired right away. Otherwise, it will break sooner than later and will need to be replaced fully.
Consider a mini opener remote instead of a visor-mounted one
Mini clickers work as well as their larger and heavier counterparts, but they are more convenient to use. They have another important advantage - you can easily keep them in a compartment inside your bag. You will never have to worry about someone breaking your car window, stealing the remote and getting into your house via the garage door.
Choose a high quality garage door torsion spring
This is crucial since the spring is responsible for balancing and lifting the door. The component’s size (determined by length and inside diameter) must match the weight of the door. The spring should be made from heavy-duty galvanized steel. The greater the wire size is - the better. Consider a component with a longer cycle life. Springs with a life of 20,000 cycles need to be replaced much less frequently compared to those with a life of 5,000 cycles.
Provide full maintenance to the opener safety sensors
It begins with inspection for damage. If you find twisted wires or cracks on the plastic casing, timely repair is required. Clean the sensors with a soft lint-free cloth. Don’t use any cleaning solution. Adjust the device to aim the sensors at each other. Open the garage door fully, place a solid object in front of one of the sensors and push the remote button for closing the door. If the unit closes as usual, the sensors should be fixed or replaced.