As the year winds down to a close, now is an excellent time to look at your annual home maintenance checklist to see which items still need attention. One task that should be on that list each year is garage door maintenance. The Wisconsin winter can cause numerous garage door problems because metal parts that operate the door shrink and break. The tracks warp, causing the door to struggle to open and close. Gaps in the seals allow cold air into the home, increasing your heating energy costs. But regular maintenance prevents untimely and costly repairs. The professionals at Joe Wilde Company are ready to perform an annual tune-up on your garage door. Here is what to expect from the service call.
Examine the Door
A garage door tune-up involves a visual inspection of all the working parts of your door system. A skilled technician begins by examining the garage door’s appearance, looking for chips and scratches, peeling paint, and rust spots that should be repaired before they spread or cause significant damage to the door. He or she may give you recommendations on simple repairs you can do with sanding and painting. If the door is damaged or should be replaced, the tech can direct you to the extensive options of beautiful and durable garage doors offered by Joe Wilde Company.
Along with the door, the tech will examine the weatherstripping along the edges of the door. Weatherstripping is essential because it prevents water, snow, ice, debris, and even pests from invading your garage. Cracks and gaps in the seal allow cold air in and warm air out, and built-up dirt and debris prevent seals from working effectively. If the weatherstripping is cracked, brittle, or disintegrating, it should be replaced.
Examine the Parts – Tracks, Springs, Rollers, Cables
Even if the door itself is in excellent condition, the parts that move it wear out over time and are subject to extra stress during winter. The technician will examine the working parts by opening and closing the door multiple times. He or she will pay attention to the ease in which it moves, look for abnormal movement, and listen to how the moving parts sound. The tech may check the balance by releasing the door from the opener and lifting it manually. If it is out of balance, the tech can rebalance the springs.
The Wisconsin cold weather causes metal parts to contract, leading to tracks that become warped, separated, or misaligned. Springs become rigid and snap, and rollers should be replaced every several years. The tech will inspect each of these parts to confirm the current wear level and recommend if they should be replaced.
As the technician moves through the various parts of the door, he or she will tend to each one as needed. Rollers, springs, tracks, hinges, pulleys, and bearings will all be lubricated with a professional-grade product designed for use on garage doors and their components. The tech will replace cracked or damaged parts, inspect and tighten bolts, and adjust the tracks to make them level and straight.
One important part to note is the strong, high-tension steel cables that lift and lower the door. Because the cold makes these cables brittle, the tech will inspect them for wear and fraying. If the cables need to be replaced, it is imperative that it is done only by a trained professional. The cables are under extreme tension and can snap, causing severe or fatal injuries.
Joe Wilde Company is Ready
By performing maintenance now, you can ensure that your door will function throughout the winter. Joe Wilde Company services all brands of garage doors and openers, and our technicians have decades of on-the-job experience. Joe Wilde Company is ranked by Expertise as one of the best garage door companies in Milwaukee. Our exceptional team of knowledgeable professionals is dedicated to performing your garage service at the highest standard.
Call us at 262-782-0500 to schedule your annual tune-up. You can also request a free, no-obligation estimate or fill out our contact form online. Our trucks are stocked, and our technicians are ready to get your garage door in working order quickly.