Garage door part names and descriptions can be confusing, but they’re not hard to understand once you know what each one does. More so, such knowledge may come in handy if and when something goes wrong with your residential garage door, as you can effortlessly point out the issue and tell what part needs a replacement or maintenance. We’ve created the following to discuss the top ten essential garage door opener parts that Portland and surrounding areas homeowners should have on hand.
Door Opener
An opener is the first of many garage door part names you should know. It’s a device that looks like a box hanging from the ceiling and comes with a cord extension to plug into an outlet. There are three main garage door opener types: electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic. Electric openers are the most common type for residential garage doors and require electricity to operate. The opener motor drives the chain, which is connected to the tube shaft, to raise and lower the door.
Hydraulic openers use pressurized oil to power their motors, and pneumatic openers use air pressure to raise and lower the garage door; neither of these types are common in residential garage door systems.
Torsion Springs
The torsion springs are used to keep the door closed or opened. A garage door torsion spring is usually made from steel wire and coil around a central axis. The garage door spring is wound tightly until it reaches its full extension, after which it unwinds until it returns to the starting position. This movement causes the garage door to rise and fall.
Tube Shaft
A tube shaft is a cylindrical component usually placed inside the door frame, holding the torsion springs in place. It helps prevent damage to the door frame if the door hits against it during opening or closing.
Tracks and Rollers
Tracks and rollers are crucial garage door parts you can’t afford to miss. Tracks are the components of the garage door that guide the door along the ceiling when opening and closing. On the flip side, rollers are small wheels positioned along both sides of the garage door. The rollers rest in these tracks and allow the door to slide across the floor without hitting anything.
Drums
Drums are circular pieces of pulley wheels that fit into the roller brackets. They help hold the rollers in place while allowing them to rotate freely.
Cables
Cables are long flexible wires that connect the rollers to the opener. As the rollers rotate, they pull the cables upward with them, causing the door to move up and down smoothly.
Brackets and Hinges
Brackets and hinges are parts of a garage door system that keep everything intact and connected to the garage wall. Brackets are usually screwed onto the wall, and then the hinges are attached to the bracket. A hinge consists of two plates (one fixed and one movable) held together by a pin. The plates are hinged to the garage door and the door to the wall.
Weather Seals
A weather seal is an essential component of your garage door, especially with the changing weather patterns of Portland and surrounding areas. They protect the garage interior from moisture and debris that could cause rusting or corrosion. Weather seals come in different shapes and sizes depending on what type of garage door you have. Some weather seals are designed to be installed directly over the garage door track, while others go between the door and the wall.
Safety Sensors
Safety sensors are another essential component of your garage door. Safety sensors detect when something has hit or is blocking the garage door and automatically stop it from moving and causing injury or property damage. If you don’t install safety sensors, you risk damaging your garage door or injuring yourself.
Emergency Cord
An emergency cord is a cable that secures the garage door motor to the door to lift and lower it. If the remote or motor fails, you’ll still be able to open and close the garage door manually.
Professional Garage Door Installation in Portland
Having gone through the top ten essential garage door part names, what next? It’s time to get your new garage door installed professionally today! And the Overhead Door Company of Portland is here for all of your garage door needs, including basic care & maintenance!
As natives and life-long residents, we pride ourselves on serving our community with professional garage door installation and repair in Portland. We’re the leading provider of residential and commercial garage doors and garage door operating systems in Portland and surrounding areas. We also guarantee unparalleled technical expertise, integrity, and quality in our installation services, meeting all our clients’ specific needs. If you’ve been looking to upgrade or install a newer, longer-lasting, and quality-approved garage door with advanced features, we invite you to contact us today for more information about our garage door options. Our friendly staff will answer any questions you may have and provide you with a free estimate.
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