Posted October 12th, 2018 at 5:06 pm by Dan Musick
With temperatures dropping, it won’t be long before the leaves fall, the air is crisp and cool, and you are staring winter in the face. This means you need to think about all those pesky details and maintenance protocols. These usually happen before the snow flies, especially garage door inspections.
Garage door maintenance and inspections are important, whether you do it yourself or schedule a company to do it for you. It keeps your business or your home running smoothly. If a door breaks down at your business, the time needed to fix it can easily translate into lost productivity. This is especially true if it’s the only door you have on your loading dock. No one wants to be responsible for that.
Likewise, if your car is inside your garage when the door breaks, you may find it difficult to get to work. This costs you in pay and upsets your boss. Neither scenario is pleasant.
You might ask, are you at the whim of springs and cables deciding when they will give out? Or can you do something to help keep them in top shape and able to give you a long life? The short answer is that you can.
Why Perform Inspections?
As with most things, garage doors require routine maintenance and replacement of worn parts to keep them in good condition. Also, performing garage door inspections regularly will help keep them functional and avoid costly repairs or premature replacement.
In commercial applications, there are likely to be OHS/OSHA compliance requirements, including regular maintenance and inspections. The “General Duty of Care” clauses are used for citations and violations relating to lack of safety devices, poor installation, and lack of regular maintenance and inspections.
Inspection Items
Several items should be on your inspection checklist for each overhead/garage door. They include: check each section for damage; inspect and adjust door alignment; inspect and lubricate rollers and bearings; lubricate, adjust and inspect springs for secure mounting; inspect and tighten hinges and hardware; check cables and drums for wear or damage; inspect locks for proper operation; check weatherstripping for wear or damage; inspect track fasteners and hangers, and lubricate and inspect chain hoist. In addition, more helpful information is on our Overhead Door Preventive Maintenance & Inspection blog.
Be aware: replacing garage door springs is dangerous because of the tension in the spring. Garage door repairs often involve replacing parts that tie into the spring system. Many accidents, injuries, and deaths have occurred to those who have not understood the forces at work. A proper understanding of garage door springs, garage door weights, garage door parts, and how these are interconnected is essential for safe repairs.
Where to Get Replacement Parts
Once you’ve completed your garage door inspection, there may be items that need replacement. To make sure you get the proper parts for your unit, contact DDM Garage Doors, Inc. We also have a series of tutorials for those who prefer to do it themselves, but would like a bit of instruction.
DDM Garage Doors, Inc. offers local pick-up for those in Illinois and nearby states. We also ship both nationally and internationally. If you plan to pick up parts, we recommend that you call first to make sure the parts you need are available.
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