It’s not until you’re in the market for a new garage door or something’s wrong with your old door that you really appreciate how many parts and components are involved in keeping it operating smoothly and reliably. In either of these scenarios, it helps to be a little familiar with all the elements that make it work. Let’s break down the most common garage door parts and their functions to help you better understand how your overhead garage door works.
Door Panels
You likely already know what a door panel is – it’s essentially what makes up garage doors. What you may not know is that, depending on the garage door you have, the panels can be replaced. If you find one panel of your door in poor condition and damaged, it’s entirely possible to get a singular overhead door panel. Head to your local hardware shop to find a suitable piece to compliment your door’s look or speak with a garage door repair service – they’ll be able to find a replacement and install it.
Hinges
The hinges are what hold the panels of your garage door together. This allows the panels to bend as the door moves along the track, much like the bones in your spinal column. You’ll want to keep your hinges well-oiled using certified garage door lubricant Ditch the WD-40 or “all-purpose” oils, they’ll just cause your garage door’s parts to rust, forcing you to cough up expensive replacements. Keeping things well-oiled will make the door much less noisy overtime.
Rollers
Most doors have two rollers at the top and bottom. Like the name suggests, they allow the door to roll along the track so the door can move fluidly as it opens and closes. They work a lot like ball bearings. They do need replaced every once in a while, to ensure a smooth and quiet functioning door. Rollers are one of the most important parts of the garage door, which means their replacement should be handled with care. The garage door is under incredible amounts of tension and loosening the bolts that hold it together to replace rollers is a recipe for a disaster. Let a garage door repair company replace your rollers.
Chain
Assuming your door has an automatic opener (it is the 21st century after all), it will have a chain that works with the motor and chains to lift your several hundred-pound door at the touch of a button. Some doors use belts or screws, but most will use chains. Either way, their purpose is the same.
Garage Door Trolley
The garage door trolley is the part on the garage door opener that connects the opener arm to the garage door opener. The garage door trolley operates on either a chain or a belt. You might also know the garage door trolley as the carriage. If your overhead door doesn’t budge but the trolley does, it’s time for a replacement.
Repairing the garage door trolley is fairly easy and shouldn’t take much time. You’ll notice a piece of rope hanging from the bottom of the garage door trolley. This is the emergency release cord that disengages the garage door opener from the garage door. To reconnect the garage door opener, simply run the garage door opener again. The garage door trolley will automatically reconnect.
Garage Door Springs
Arguably the most important part of the overhead door setup, garage door springs literally do the heavy lifting. When it comes to springs, whether they be extension or torsion, we recommend simply inspecting them for rust or irregularities and leaving repair and replacements to garage door service companies. Springs are under a significant amount of pressure and can easily snap if they’re left in unexperienced hands. Save yourself the headache by investing in trustworthy garage door experts.
If you’re having any trouble with your garage door parts, such as your hinges or overhead door trolleys, seek out the best repair companies in your area that are insured. You’ll want to spring for companies that have a proven track record in delivering quality results so your door continues to operate smoothly.