With 63% of American homes utilizing a garage or carport, garage doors play an important role for many homeowners in securing their vehicles and other personal belongings. They protect valuables from damage, weather conditions and prevent items from becoming stolen by passersby.
How Do Garage Doors Work?
To gain more insight on the inner workings of this process, here is a rundown of 8 of the major garage door parts:
#1: Bottom Seal and Retainer
The garage door gasket, or seal, insulates the garage and prevents any condensation, animals, or air from getting in between the cracks of the bottom of the door. The retainers hold and support these seals in place.
#2: Tracks and Rollers
The tracks on either side of the garage door are responsible for guiding the door up and down. Garage door rollers, usually made from nylon or steel, move within the track of the door and aid in smooth and quiet opening and closing of the door.
#3: Torsion Springs
The springs of the door, typically torsion springs in newer door models, are responsible for helping the heavy garage door raise by twisting and releasing tension.
#4: Exterior Features
There are a few important exterior features that contribute to the style, design, and overall appearance of a garage door, including:
- Garage door panels
- Garage door trim
- Garage door hardware
#5: Garage Opener
A garage opener is an electronic device that automatically facilitates the opening and closing of the garage with a remote or touch of a button. The most common openers include chain drives, belt drives, and screw drives.
#6: Struts
A garage door strut is a metal structure that provides horizontal reinforcement. This helps keep the garage door rigid and strong to protect the door from getting damaged and weak.
#7: Lock
A garage door lock is a security feature that locks the garage door after closing it with an automatic opener. This prevents intruders from breaking into the garage.
#8: Cables & Drums
Garage door cables are integral in assisting the torsion spring to lift the garage door, as they connect the springs to the garage door opener. Cables wrap-around cable drums, which help to keep the door balanced and stable.
4 Simple Ways To Maintain Garage Doors
Since the average garage door opens 1,500 times a year, it is bound to wear over time. To keep garage doors performing to the best of their abilities, make sure to always follow these at-home maintenance practices:
#1: Tighten Up Loose Parts
It is essential to tighten the brackets and bolts of your door occasionally, as it is all too common for them to loosen with frequent use.
#2: Lubricate Moving Parts
Always lubricate the moving parts of a garage door with white lithium grease to ensure that it runs smoothly and quietly. Lubrication also prevents the chain and other parts from wearing down prematurely.
#3: Test The Door’s Balance
If a garage door’s weight isn’t evenly distributed, it can cause strain on the system and increase the risk of the door breaking or snapping. Test a door’s balance by lifting up the door and seeing if it drops down when it’s disconnected to the opener. If it falls, it isn’t balanced and needs professional assistance.
#4: Check Effectiveness Of Safety Features
Today, the majority of garage door sensors contain auto-reverse features that prevent the door from closing on objects in its path. To stay as safe as possible, place a small object under the door and close it to make sure that it reverses before hitting the object.
The Importance Of Hiring Professional Garage Door Experts
As you can see, garage doors are by no means a simple invention. It is always smart to hire professional assistance if any part of a garage door’s function goes awry. Here are some of the benefits that come with a professional repair:
- No risk of personal injury, especially since garage doors are extremely heavy and can be dangerous to fix without sufficient training and expertise
- Cost-effective, since professionals can avoid damaging expensive parts like the cables, tracks, and springs
- Access to proper repair equipment and tools
- Completely hassle-free on your end, saving you both time and stress
- Guaranteed solutions and results on the first repair attempt
The Best Garage Door Services In Austin
To ensure you go with the best garage door installations and repairs in Austin, work with Austin’s Greater Garage Doors today. With 15+ years of experience in the garage door business, we are committed to providing excellent service and treating every client like our own family.
