Use your owners manual when performing this monthly maintenance. If you don’t have a manual, check the back of the door for the model number, or check lock handle, hinges etc. for the manufacturer’s name and request a manual. If no name is available, call a certified, experienced garage door company and explain you situation. Most companies will gladly help you.

Visual Inspection of springs, rollers, pulleys, cables and track
A visual door inspection should include a close look at the springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and other door hardware for signs of wear. If you site any problems, have a qualified repair person make the repairs.

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, FOLLOWING THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS, SHOULD ADJUST THEM.

THE TORSION 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 (along the side of the door) to help contain the spring if it breaks.

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.

Lubrication Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door. Do not lubricate plastic parts such as rollers and idler bearings. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for these parts.

	Door Balance Test the balance of your door by starting with the door closed and using the release mechanism so that you can operate the door by hand. You should be able to lift the door with little resistance. It should stay open at about 3 or 4 feet above the floor. If it does not, it is out of adjustment.
HAVE THE DOOR ADJUSTED BY A QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSON.

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Reversal Test
Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards. Contact the manufacturer or installer for additional information.
* Test the balance of the door (see TEST THE BALANCE OF YOUR DOOR below). If the door is properly balanced, proceed.

* With the door fully open, place a 1 ½” thick piece of wood on the floor in the center of the door.
Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the wood. (Note that the bottom part of “one piece doors” must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.) If the door does not reverse, have it repaired or replaced. ALWAYS have a professional, qualified person adjust, repair or replace the
opener or the 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 may be excessive and need adjusting. See owner’s manual for details on how to make the adjustment. Test the reversing feature after any adjustment.

Additional Safety Devices
Many garage doors openers can be equipped with additional safety devices, such as a photo eye or edge sensor as an extra measure of safety to protect against entrapment.

*Review the owner’s manual for the door opener. If an owner’s manual is not available, look for the opener model number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.*

*This 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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