The Magic Behind Your Garage Door: A Step-by-Step Explanation

Ever wondered how your garage door opens and closes with ease? It’s not magic, but rather a remarkable combination of technology and engineering. In this post, we’ll lift the curtain and explore the inner workings of your garage door.

The Basic Components

Before diving into the process, let’s get you familiar with the key parts of the sectional overhead garage door:

1. Door panels: The visible part of your garage door, typically made of steel, wood, or aluminium.

2. Torsion Pole and Bearings: The torsion pole goes above the garage door and typically has a centre and two side bearings. The torsion spring is fitting onto the torsion pole.

3. Springs: The mighty forces that counterbalance the door’s weight.

4. Tracks: The guides that keep your door aligned and moving smoothly.

5. Rollers: The wheels that glide along the tracks.

6. Motor: The brain of the operation, powering the door’s movement.

The Opening Process

Now that we’ve covered the parts makeup of a garage door, let’s walk through the step-by-step process:
1. Signal received: You press the remote control or wall switch.

2. Motor activation: The motor springs to life, engaging the gears.

3. Chain or belt movement: The motor rotates the chain or belt, lifting the door.

4. Rollers glide: The rollers move along the tracks, guiding the door upward.

5. Springs release: The springs release tension, assisting the door’s ascent.

The Closing Process

The process reverses when you close the door:

1. Signal received: You press the remote control or wall switch.

2. Motor activation: The motor engages, reversing the gears.

3. Chain or belt movement: The motor rotates the chain or belt, lowering the door.

4. Rollers glide: The rollers move along the tracks, guiding the door downward.

5. Springs engage: The springs tension, helping to slow the door’s descent.

Maintenance Tips

To keep your garage door running smoothly:

1. Regularly lubricate: Keep the moving parts well-lubricated but ensure that you don’t utilise a silicone lubricant as it is a degreaser!

2. Check balance: Ensure the door is properly balanced. This is where we highly recommend that you get your garage technician to come out and professionally do this.

3. Inspect tracks: Clean and inspect the tracks regularly.

Conclusion

Your garage door’s intricate mechanism is truly remarkable. By understanding how it works, you’ll appreciate the importance of regular maintenance and timely repairs. Keep your garage door running like clockwork, and enjoy the convenience and security it provides. Contact us today!