Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association International Garage Door And Opener Maintenance Guide 
Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association International Garage Door And Opener Maintenance Guide
Take a few minutes to inspect
and test your complete garage door system. Make monthly inspection and testing
a part of your regular routine.
| TESTING AND MAINTAINING THE GARAGE
DOOR OPENER |
|
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| Consult
the owner’s manual for additional recommended maintenance
for your model of door opener. If you don’t have the owner's
manual, look for the opener model number on the back of the
power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer. |
|
|
 Reversal
Test
Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature
is not present, the opener should be replaced.
Garage door
openers manufactured after January 1, 1993, are required by federal
law to have advanced safety features that comply with the latest
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) 325 standards. Contact your manufacturer
or installer for additional information.
| Test
the reversing feature every month. |
| 1. |
|
First, test the balance
of the door. If the door is properly balanced, then proceed.
|
| 2. |
|
With the door fully
open, place a 1-1/2" thick piece of wood (a 2" X 4"
laid flat) or a full roll of paper towels on the floor in the
center of the door. |
| 3. |
|
Push the transmitter
or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when
it strikes the obstruction. (Note that the bottom part of "one-piece
doors" must be rigid so that the door will not close, but
will reverse when it contacts the obstruction.) |
| 4. |
|
If the door does
not reverse, have it repaired or replaced. Have a qualified
technician adjust, repair, or replace the opener or door. |
 Force
Setting Test
Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the
bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily,
the force setting may be excessive and need adjusting. See your
owner’s manual for details on how to make the adjustment.
Additional
Safety Devices
Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety
devices, such as photo eyes or edge sensors, to protect against
entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices will not
make an old opener meet the current UL standards. Make sure the
additional safety devices are properly installed and adjusted (see
owner's manual).
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| TESTING AND
MAINTAINING THE GARAGE DOOR |
|
|
| Perform
routine maintenance steps once a month. Review your owner’s
manual for the garage door. If you don’t have a manual,
look for the model number on the back of the door, or check
the lock handle, hinges, or other hardware for the manufacturer's
name and request a manual from the manufacturer. |
|
|
Visual
Inspection
Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and other
door hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems, have a qualified
person make repairs.
 |
WARNING
- Springs are under high tension. Only qualified persons should
adjust them. |
Garage door
springs, cables, brackets, and other hardware attached to the springs
are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause
serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically
experienced person should adjust them, but only by carefully following
the manufacturer's instructions.
The torsion
springs (the springs above the door) should only be adjusted by
a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust torsion springs
yourself.
A restraining
cable or other device should be installed on the extension spring
(the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring
if it breaks.
|
|
 |
WARNING!
Never remove, adjust, or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets
of the door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the
lift cable and are under extreme tension. |
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|
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Lubrication
Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. However, do
not lubricate plastic idler bearings. Consult the door owner's
manual for the manufacturer's recommendation. |
|
|
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Door
Balance
Periodically test the balance of your door. |
| 1. |
|
Start
with the door closed. |
| 2. |
|
If
you have a garage door opener, use the release mechanism
so you can operate the door by hand when doing this test.
|
| 3. |
|
You
should be able to lift the door smoothly and with little
resistance. It should stay open around three or four feet
above the floor. If it does not, it is out of adjustment.
Have it adjusted by a qualified service person. |
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This important information
is provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National
Safety Council, and the Industry Coalition for Automatic Garage Door Opener
Safety.
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