One of the most common problems you will find in America is a garage door that just doesn’t work the way it used to. People tend to put off attending to the problems inherent in an aging or damaged garage door for a number of reasons. One of those reasons may be that it just isn’t a big enough priority to warrant the investment of money or time. The problem is that the longer you put off fixing the problem, the greater the likelihood of the problem just getting worse and eventually requiring even more money or time. Why not just take a lazy Sunday during halftime or any time during a Sunday without football and do a quick fix? Many times the problems related to a garage door can be effectively addressed with a minimum of time, money and effort.
Lubrication
A garage door that sticks can be a real pain in the butt during a rainy day or when you are in a hurry. The tragedy here is that a sticky garage door can be fixed in just a few minutes. Grab a can of spray lubricant like the ever reliable WD40 and lube the rollers, pulleys and shafts. That is the first step toward fixing a sticky garage door and in most cases will solve the problem.
Cleaning Dirt
The next step in a quick fix of a sticky garage door involves inspection of the track. Look for a buildup of dirt and grime and oil and anything else that can obstruct efficient rolling of the mechanism. Dampen a cloth in mineral spirits and wiped the track clean after pulling away any dirt or leaves or crud with your fingers. Don’t try oiling the track, however, as that substance is only going to increase the rate that dirt accumulates again.
Tighten Loose Hardware
Get your screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches and set to work locating and fixing any screws, nut or bolts that have become loose. The key points to inspect are were the track attaches to the door frame or overhead braces. A door track that is obviously knock out of alignment is a sure sign that your garage door problem can be fixed by tightening some hardware.
Obstructions
A garage door that won’t open or close all the way could be the victim of a simple obstruction. Inspect the door to see if anything in the garage has gotten stuck somewhere to result in the problem. If so, try extricating the foreign object to see if that resolves the problem.
Springs
Take a look at those large, tightly coiled springs that help the garage door operate. You may think that you see something there that is causing the problem, like a lack of tension or springs that seem to have come out of place. If you pay attention to nothing else in this article, heed this warning: do not under any circumstances attempt a quick fix of your garage door problems by meddling with the springs. Those springs are under such an extreme state of tension that if something were to go wrong, the result could lead to a visit to the emergency room and even, under the worst possible scenario, a visit to the coroner for you or anybody else nearby. Stay away from garage door springs and live with the problem until you get professional assistance.