If you own a home, chances are you own a garage. And if you own a garage, you should have at least a basic understanding of the various garage door parts — what they are and what they do. Here’s a brief guide that breaks down all the components and why they’re important to a smooth functioning door.
Garage Door Springs
There are 2 basic types of springs to garage doors: extension and torsion. Your extension springs are mounted on each side of a garage door wall. These springs are under extremely high tension — that’s what provides the mechanics that make lifting a several hundred pound door feel so easy. Torsion springs also contain an enormous amount of tension. These are the springs that wind up as the door is closed.
Brackets, Rollers & Hinges
The brackets, rollers and hinges are what hold each section of the door together. Overtime and use, brackets and hinges tend to become loose which can make your door noisier. It’s a good idea to tighten these down with a wrench from time to time. Rollers will eventually wear out and need replaced. It’s a good idea to visually inspect the rollers from time to time so your door runs smoothly.
Tracks
Your garage door tracks are the metal parts on either side of the door that provide an area for the rollers to run. It’s important that your tracks are in a vertical position and not bent. A bent or slanted track can cause the door to go off track, which will need to be fixed.