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Read This Before You Try Replacing Your Garage Door Drums!

Your garage door drums are essentially what do the heavy lifting of your overhead garage door. They are the wheels that wind the cables that make lifting a hundred pound door seem as effortless as placing the milk back in the fridge. The cables connect to the springs of your garage door. Each part works together to lift your door with ease.

Garage door drums tend to accumulate dirt and dust overtime and use. It’s another reason why a periodic inspection from a professional can be so helpful. By doing a periodic cleaning, you can vastly improve the lifetime of your drums. You can also proactively spot potential repair issues with your garage door before they become critical.

Signs Your Drums Need Replaced

If your garage door drums become shaky or noisy, they might need replaced. Other signs of wear and tear include chipping, broken areas of the drum, or they’ve become warped. It’s important to get them replaced as soon as possible because warped or damaged drums can severely damage other components of the door, even the door itself.

You should inspect your garage door every so often for potential maintenance issues. This includes the drums too.

Types of Replacement Garage Door Drums

There are 2 types of replacement garage door drums: Torque Force 400-96 cable drums and Torque Force 400-144 cable drums. It’s important to replace the drum with the correct type. If you aren’t sure, check with your local garage door repair shop.

Most residential doors have Torque Force 400-96 cable drums. They weigh about 265 pounds and take cables up to 1/8-inch thick.

Heavier garage doors usually take Torque Force 400-144 cable drums. These weigh 375 pounds and support heavier cables. These garage door drums can handle considerably more weight and support doors up to 12 feet high. If you have a high overhead garage, say for a commercial space, or a heavy door of galvanized steel, this is likely which kind you have.

A Word of Caution About Garage Door Springs

Since the drums are connected to the cables, which are connected to very tense springs, this is not a job you should attempt yourself. These cables and springs can cause serious bodily injury or even death if suddenly released. Anything involving garage door springs should always be left to a professional.

Call a professional for your garage door drum replacement. We offer routine and emergency garage door repairs to the Sacramento and Elk Grove areas. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Overhead Garage Door Repair: What to Do About Sticky Rollers

The rollers on your garage door should spin and turn. This allows for a smoother opening of the door. If the rollers don’t spin, the door can become stuck and even go off track. Sticky rollers also make opening the closing the door noisier. This is usually caused by a lack of lubrication and excess humidity. Fortunately, this is a fairly easy DIY repair. Take a garage door lubricant and spray the rollers and the track. Don’t use WD40 as this can cause the parts of your garage door to rust. A well oiled garage door will function smoothly and last longer. It’s a good idea to oil your garage door periodically every few months.