The Achilles Heels of Home Security
The garage is not the preferred point of entry for most burglars. However, overhead door maintenance oversights can make your home or business a tempting and defenseless target for break-ins by burglars experienced in spotting poorly maintained doors.
Because you never know when an unwanted intrusion or accident will happen, it’s important to address maintenance overhead door issues and do the needed repairs beforehand. Our professionals at Overhead Door Company of Portland identified four leading overhead door maintenance oversights that are easily corrected.
1) Misaligned Door
Door tracks can get warped or bent over time from simple wear and tear. This can create a host of other problems that can make the door a safety hazard. What’s more, a misaligned door makes it fairly easy for a thief to use a variety of tools to gain unauthorized entry. Although a misaligned door is fixable by a determined do-it-yourselfer, you can injure yourself in the process. It’s best to get an experienced professional for help.
2) Faulty Opener Issues
Faulty door openers can cause your door to behave erratically. An overhead door that partially opens or closes is one of the more common problems that can create a major security risk. Many faulty opener problems are related to the garage door safety sensors, located at the bottom of both tracks. These are generally easy to fix yourself to avoid calling a service call.
Check to see if the sensor photo cell lights are functioning properly. Make sure the red and green lights are both working and are correctly aligned facing each other. The red light on Overhead Door models should be blinking. The green light does not blink. If either of the lights is not working, check the wiring to make sure it’s connected to the photo cell. For other brands of overhead doors, check your owner’s manual.
3) Older Garage Door Remotes
Older model door openers are vulnerable to thieves who can readily buy a handful of replacement remotes, of which one is likely to have your access code. Many thieves use electronic “code-grabbers” that remotely grab your garage door radio signal. Today’s garage doors use technology that generates random rolling codes each time you use the remote. If you’re working with the older technology, consider investing in the new technology to stay a step ahead of the thieves.
4) Neglecting Periodic Maintenance
For added safety and security, the International Door Association recommends conducting a monthly maintenance inspection, which should include:
- Door Opener Inspection
- Do the Reversal Test by opening the door and placing a 2X4 on the floor in the center of the door. Close the door to see if it reverses when it strikes the 2X4.
- Do the Force Setting Test by holding the door firmly while it closes. If it reverses, you’re good to go.
- Door Inspection
- Visually inspect the high-tension area above the door that houses the bracket and spring. If the bracket is not secure against the wall, or otherwise misaligned, call a professional.
- Visually inspect the rollers, cables, pulley and track to make sure they are secure, aligned and the cables not frayed.
- Do the Door Balance Test by disconnecting the opener from the door when the door is in the closed position. Then, manually open the door about halfway. If the door does not remain stationary in halfway position, you may have spring issues that require professional help.
- Periodic Lubrication
- Use a garage door lubricant once or twice a year to lubricate the spring and the door panel hinges. Avoid using penetrating oils that can be harmful door mechanisms.
Don’t Be A Statistic
According to FBI statistics, 1 in 36 homes is burglarized each year. Don’t become another statistic by inviting burglars to liberate you from your valuable possessions. Tend to these minimal garage door maintenance chores as a practice of habit. They require little investment in time or money.
Looking to upgrade your overhead doors to improve security? Contact us at Overhead Door Company of Portland. We offer the latest and greatest in commercial and residential door technology.
