Living in Toronto means your garage door has to deal with some of the worst weather in the country. Your door’s mechanical parts have probably taken a beating after a long winter of freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and road salt. Now that the ice is melting and spring is here, it’s a good time to check that the biggest moving part of your home is safe and working.
We’ve seen how a few months of Ontario winter can rust springs, fray cables, and slow down openers at Toronto Garage Door Guys. Here’s why it’s important to tune up your spring and what you can do to keep your door working well.
1. Look for signs of wear and tear from winter.
The changing winter temperatures cause metal to shrink and expand, putting a lot of stress on your torsion springs. Look for gaps in the coils or rust on the outside. You should also check the weather stripping at the bottom of the door. If it has cracks or is brittle, it won’t keep out the spring rain or summer humidity, which will raise your energy bills.
2. Clean the Rollers and Tracks.
Salt and dirt from Toronto roads often get into your garage and stick to the tracks and rollers. This junk works like sandpaper, wearing down moving parts and making your door squeak or jerk. Use a wet cloth to clean the inside of the tracks. It’s time to get new rollers if they are made of steel and look rusty, or if they are made of nylon and have cracks.
3. Check the safety and balance features.
For your opener to last a long time, your garage door needs to be balanced. To do this, pull the emergency release cord and lift the door halfway by hand. It should stay put; if it slams shut or shoots up, the tension is off. Also, you should always check your safety sensors. Make sure the photo-eyes are straight and free of cobwebs. To check the auto-reverse feature, place something solid, such as a piece of wood, in the door’s path. If the door doesn’t open right away when you touch it, it could be very dangerous for your family.
4. Oil is important.
Proper lubrication is one of the easiest ways to make your door last longer. Spray the hinges, rollers, and springs with a good silicone or lithium-based spray. Don’t use WD-40 because it’s a degreaser and can strip away important oils, making things more slippery over time.
Help from professionals when you need it.
Many maintenance tasks can be done by yourself, but some repairs, especially those involving high-tension springs and cables, should always be done by professionals. Trying to fix a broken garage door spring on your own can hurt you badly.
Toronto Garage Door Guys can help if your door is making strange grinding noises, moving unevenly, or won’t open. To keep your home safe, we offer professional repairs, installations, and maintenance all over the GTA.
Call us today to set up your spring inspection:
📞 647-777-7412
150 Duncan Mill Road, Unit 2, Toronto, ON M3B 3M4
www.torontogaragedoorguys.ca
