The Everyday Guide to Keeping Your Chain Drive Garage Door Opener Running Smoothly

Properly maintaining your chain drive garage door opener can both save you money in the long run and ensure its longevity. The simple steps of inspecting, tightening, and oiling can ensure that your chain drive garage door opener is functioning properly and won’t be in need of major repairs or replacements. Below are five chain drive garage door opener maintenance tips that you should adhere to periodically in order to ensure that your opener is functioning at its best and will last a long time.

1. Tighten Hardware Periodically – As time progresses and through regular use, the hardware of you garage door opener will eventually begin to work loose. The vibrations caused by the garage door opener are primarily to blame. It is essential to periodically use a ratchet, screwdriver, or adjustable wrench to tighten each of the nuts and bolts that connect the various parts. If this step is not taken, you could potentially cause damage to the door from loose pieces and possibly even a binding and breaking of the chain.

2. Lubricate Chain Drives – The chain drive of your garage door opener should be lubricated every two to three months with a light machine oil like WD-40. This will reduce the amount of noise and friction that is caused by metal contact and allow for smoother functioning of your garage door opener. Don’t ever use oil designed for automobiles as this could cause harm to your garage door opener.

3. Remove Slack in Chain – Every year or so, you should check and make sure that there is no slack in the chain of your garage door opener. If there is, it will cause the door to not open properly or close with a loud thud. To fix this problem you will have to use the limit screw on the power unit of the opener to remove this slack and make the chain tight.

4. Take Care of Your Garage Door – Garage door openers will also last longer if you maintain the actual garage door. Make sure that the bolts on the garage door slides are tightened, and that the wheels are greased and run smoothly.

5. Clean & Replace Lighting – Many people forget about the light that the garage door opener has in the system. However, you should periodically remove the cover and clean out the light area and cover itself. The bulbs should also be replaced every 18 months for optimal performance.

By completing the steps detailed above, you will be able to maintain your chain drive garage door opener and ensure its longevity. Keeping up with regular maintenance tasks can save you from potentially costly repairs down the road and give you peace of mind every time you open and close your garage door.