There are several parts of a garage door, and each component makes up the complete garage door system that offers a high-level security car and other items stored in your garage. The individual parts of a garage door have to be maintained or replaced periodically to prevent damage to the garage doors. Before installing a new garage door or carrying out preventive maintenance on your garage doors, it is essential to know the different parts of a garage door and its functions.

Parts of a Garage Door System

Different garage door components and garage door accessories make up the garage door system. Garage door installation or repair can only be possible if you understand each part of a garage door’s interconnectivity and its respective functions. Once you understand this, you can better-grasp the working principle of a garage door. You can also identify the possible cause of garage door faults.

Here are the parts of a garage door system:

1. Springs

Springs are garage door components that produce the required energy in lifting the garage door. They are also available in most garage door installation kits. A Garage door does not rely on a motor for its lifting energy because of the high amount of power that would drive the motor. The spring is a more efficient lifting system. However, the motor in a garage door helps control the placement and movement of the torsion springs for easy movement. Springs generate elastic potential energy that can withstand the weight of garage doors.

2. Door Opener

The door opener is also one of the primary garage door components. The door opener has a box shape and hangs from the ceiling. It connects with a cord that extends to an outlet to plug the cord. The door opener switch and remote control send a signal to the door opener anytime the button is pushed. The motor produces the energy for controlling this mechanism.

3. Drums

The drums are] essential garage door components that support garage door cables’ movement through their rotational motion. It is made up of pulley wheels that are connected to both ends of the tube shaft. As a result of energy released from the spring, the drum rotates, thus supporting the cables’ movement.

4. Tube

One important part of a garage door is the tube shaft. It runs above the door, and it also helps to hold the torsion springs in position. The tube shaft is stationary, but it aids the functionality of the springs.

5. Cables

Cables come with most garage door installation kits. The cables connect the garage door and the mechanism in the garage door opener. The bottom of the door is also connected to each cable’s bottom, while the drum is connected to each tabletop. The table lifts the door when pulled upward due to the rotation of the drum.

6. Rollers and Tracks

Rollers and tracks are garage door components that help to keep the garage door in a set path. They help to keep the garage door from crashing into the ceiling or veering to one side. The rollers fit into the metal tracks that provide the garage door’s path to close and open.

7. Hinges and Brackets

The parts of a garage door cannot be complete without mentioning hinges and brackets. These metal parts also come with the garage door ins kits. They help to fasten the rollers and cables to the garage door.

8. Weather Seals

Garage door accessories like the weather seals play a significant role in reducing rain, insects, snow, and other elements of nature. They are found along the bottom and sides of garage door openings. Weather seals also provide insulation for the walls around the garage doors.

9. Safety Sensor

Garage doors are heavy and large; thus, they are potential hazards and safety concerns if they are not monitored. The safety sensors or photo-eye are designed to help prevent accidents. The sensors are on opposite sides of each other, one sensor projecting a light beam into the second sensor’s lens. If the other sensor does not receive the light, the mechanism automatically stops the door from closing, which means that something may be obstructing the light’s pathway.

10. Emergency Cord

The emergency cord is a safety feature that forms the parts of a garage door. It is positioned around the door operator and can be identified with a red tag. The emergency cord helps to disengage the motor for opening the door during maintenance. It prevents the door from opening or closing automatically when carrying out garage door repairs or maintenance.

How to Maintain Different Parts of a Garage Door

Preventive maintenance check on garage doors helps to reduce the frequency of garage door repairs. The following are ways you can maintain different parts of garage doors.

Listen and Look

To achieve proper garage door maintenance and reduce the frequency of garage door repairs, you should pay close attention to the parts of your garage door by observing them after every use. Find out if it is moving smoothly or not. Does it make a scraping or grinding noise while operating? Are both sides of the door system symmetrical? These observations can help you prevent total damage to your garage door.

Ensure that the Hardware is Tight

Most garage door components are moving parts, and they undergo series of vibration and rotational movements. This hardware can get easily loosed if not frequently observed. Endeavor to tighten all bolts and roller brackets.

Test the Balance of the Garage Door

If your garage door is not well balanced, it will cause the door opener to work harder than usual which and thus, your garage door may be easily damaged.

Change the Weatherstripping

Proper garage door maintenance ethic also involves changing the rubber weatherstrip at the bottom of your garage door once you observe that it is cracked or brittle.

Inspect and Change the Rollers

One way to prevent damage to your garage door is by carrying out a periodic inspection on the rollers and changing them at least once in seven years. Replace all cracked, chipped, or worn rollers as soon as it is discovered.

Lubricate the Moving Parts

Ensure that your garage door parts are well-lubricated, as this can increase the durability of your garage door. You can apply white lithium grease on the screw or opener’s chain or use the lubricant to coat the overhead springs.

Other ways you can carry out garage door maintenance include:

• Checking the cables
• Clear the tracks
• Test the garage door safety features
• Check the garage door for any apparent damage.

How Do You Draught-proof a Garage Door?

The importance of draught-proofing your garage door cannot be overemphasized since your garage door is an essential part of your home. Draught proofing your garage door helps in conserving heat, which reduces the cost of heating. To draught-proof your garage door, you must ensure that it is well insulated. Garage doors are the primary entrance to most homes. Therefore, a considerable amount of heat can be lost through seams and gaps in an uninsulated garage door.  

You may choose to draught-proof your garage door yourself, or you can request damage door repair services from professional technicians. Another draught-proofing option is to replace your old garage door with a new one that comes with all the garage door accessories needed for draught-proofing. Modern garage doors are designed with preinstalled properties that help to retain warmth and heat inside your garage.

What is an Overlay Garage Door?

An overlay garage door consists of wood panels or steel over a garage door to enhance its appearance. Overlay garage doors may look more sophisticated than the original garage door due to the different materials used to construct the overlay. Wood overlays or the use of flush steel panels gives the garage door a more subtle appearance. It adds to the aesthetic design and beauty of your home. A garage door installation technician can help you design and install overlay garage doors.

Can You Reface Your Garage Door?

Refacing a garage door is cheaper than replacing the entire parts of a garage door, especially if it has to do with its appearance. The cost implication of replacing your garage door for cosmetic reasons is not practical. Meanwhile, refacing can be done with a fraction of the total replacement cost.

You can reface your garage door and give it a new appearance within a short period. Most people make use of panels to reface their garage doors. The first step to refacing a garage door is to remove the paint scraps before overlaying the garage door with well cut out panels. Once you are done, you can spray the panels with any color of your choice to give your garage door a new, beautiful look.

What are the Types of Garage Door Bottom Seals?

Garage door bottom seals are of four different types, namely:

1. J-Type

The J-type bottom seal forms the J on both sides when you close the garage door.

2. Bulb

Bulb seals like J-type seals are used mostly in single-channel retainers. It spreads out and pushes upwards on even floors.

3. Beaded

Beaded seals, unlike bulb seals, are used for double channel retainers. They end upwards and fit in the circular grooves.

4. T-type

T-type seals are inverted and used in single-channel retainers.

In need of any part of a garage door in Toronto, the GTA, and the surrounding cities? Call TBC Garage Doors right now and we will get you the best quality garage door parts on the market immediately. We will also help you install and repair your worn out or malfunctioning garage doors at affordable rates.