Like most homeowners, you probably don’t think much about how your garage doors work until something breaks down. The truth is that garage doors require precision and engineering to ensure they work consistently over time. Keep reading to understand the fundamentals of garage door operation and the various parts that keep them operating smoothly and reliably.
Garage doors consist of several moving parts that must work together to ensure dependability. Usually, these parts include:
- Rollers: Rollers are affixed to the door edges and direct the movement of garage doors along a system of vertical and horizontal tracks. For a smooth operation, track alignment and roller lubrication are essential.
- Springs: Torsion or extension springs counterbalance garage doors by storing and releasing energy to help them open and close. The door is easier to handle manually or with an automatic opener since these springs support the weight of the door.
- Opening Mechanism: Motor-housed units located on the garage wall or ceiling make up the automatic garage door opener. The door is pulled, pushed open, or closed by a trolley that is propelled by a motor down a track. Safety elements in opener systems, like sensors, help prevent accidents.
Along with these essential parts, garage doors may be operated in one of three ways:
- Manual Operation: Many garage doors can still be operated manually in case of a power loss or failure. This entails physically raising or lowering the door using a handle or release cord after disengaging the opener mechanism.
- Remote Operation: With handheld transmitters or smartphone apps, automatic garage door openers allow allow you to operate your garage door remotely with just the push of a button.
- Keypad: Many garage doors have a keypad outside the garage, which enables authorized users to unlock the door by entering a security code.