Maintenance is a critical task that should be performed on your garage door regularly to ensure that it continues to work at peak levels. Here are a couple garage door maintenance tricks that you can do yourself at home using simple tools found in almost any garage.

Keep The Tracks Clear & Lubricated

The tracks are one of the most important parts of the garage door that keeps it running efficiently. If the tracks are not properly maintained they can get warped over time by obstructions on the tracks or a buildup of dirt and grime. Every other month you should pull out a chair, line it up with the tracks and then stand on it to get a clear view of the tracks. Take a soft rag and wipe away any dirt you might see on the tracks. Once you are finished you should spray the tracks with an oil-and-water-displacing spray that can help lubricate the tracks to help the rollers move up and down the tracks easier.

Re-Align The Sensors

The sensors on a garage door can shift over time and throw the entire garage door out of whack. Take a long piece of string and tie one end to one side of the sensor and then tie it around the opposite end of the sensor. Adjust the sensors on each side until the string looks straight from one side to the other. Then, take a level and gently place it on top of the middle of the string to see how level it is and make any last minute adjustments. Remove the string from both ends of the sensors and then test the garage door to make sure that it is working properly and the sensors are aligned.

Tighten The Brackets & Bolts

Over the course of a year your garage door may have to open and close a couple hundred times. During that time the vibrations from the door moving along the tracks can begin to loosen the nuts and bolts along the door. Take a socket wrench and go along to each bolt on the door, starting on the left side and moving to the right, and tighten it. Make sure that you don't tighten the bolt too tight or you could completely strip the head of the bolt entirely. Tighten it until it is snug and cannot be tightened any further with the socket wrench without using great physical force.

Following the tips outlined above will keep your garage door in working order. If you notice that the garage door is not working you should call a professional garage door technician who can take apart the springs and the electrical to properly fix any mechanical problems.

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