A garage door opener chain may produce annoying sounds when you open or close the door.
However, it makes a reliable component for the garage door.
Without it, the operation of the garage door is useless.
It is also inexpensive and can be easily fixed when damaged.
As with all equipment, the chain needs maintenance and adjustments to keep it in good condition.
But if the opener chain gets old, it might break any time soon.
Moreover, read more to know about it and how to repair if a chain of the garage door breaks.
All about Garage Door Opener Chains
When talking about garage door opener chains, the chain-drive immediately comes to our mind.
This opener chain uses chains to allow the door to move, whether it opens or closes.
Chain-drives are noisy during the operation.
The cause of this noise is due to the metal chains that drive the trolley.
Moreover, the trolley allows the raising and lowering of overhead doors.
Aside from that, a chain-drive is the popular choice for homeowners because of its affordability and durability.
However, not all homeowners prefer this type of opener chain because of the noise, which puts them off.
Furthermore, chain-drives are commonly used for houses that separate from garages.
If your garage is located under your bedroom or living room, a chain-drive is the best option for you.
Fixing a damaged Garage Door Opener Chain
One of the reasons an opener chain breaks is because of lack of maintenance.
With this, you should take care of the chains to prevent damage and loosening.
If you see rust or corrosion to the chains, apply a silicone-based lubricant to them.
But if it breaks, a repair or a replacement is the suggested method.
Make sure to consult a garage door repair company in Calgary to give a proper diagnosis.
However, DIY is another option. But when it comes to DIY, you need to follow the instructions carefully, and you should have handyman skills to pull off the job.
If you’re not confident in doing the job, you can always call a garage door repair service to assist you.
Furthermore, these are the steps in fixing your damaged garage door opener chain.
Follow the steps below and test it to make sure the chains are fixed.
First Step: Inspect the Issue
Before attempting to repair, you should determine the problem with your garage door opener chain.
To inspect, follow the steps below:
1. Try to open then close the garage door a number of times to observe the opener’s performance. If you see the door is sticking or stalling during the testing, the chain, carriage assembly, or motor might be the problem.
2. To narrow down the problem’s root cause, disconnect the motor from the power source, and close the garage door.
3. Inspect the chain for rust and corrosion.
4. Check the carriage assembly if the hardware such as nuts and bolts are in place.
5. Lastly, check the opener motor’s wiring and see if it’s generating power to the garage door.
Second Step: Lubricate and Clean the Chains
If the opener chain is rusted, apply a lubricant to remove the corrosion.
To lubricate the chains, pour the grease into a clean towel and use it to wipe the chains.
If the chain is heavily corroded, detach the chain from its assembly and apply lubricant for a few hours to loosen the rust.
Wipe and make sure to remove the excess with a towel.
Third Step: Adjust the Carriage Assembly
After lubricating the chains, you might also need to lubricate the carriage assembly as the rust can transfer to it.
Usually, when it comes to the carriage assembly, you need to adjust it if you see it’s loosening.
To adjust, loosen the bolts near the motor.
Then, compress the nut found at the end part to tighten the chain.
Fourth Step: Reconnect the Motor
After doing the steps above, reconnect the opener motor and test the door by opening and closing it.
However, if the chain is still knocking off the rail, tighten the screw from the carriage assembly slightly.
Then, test once again until there’s no issue detected.
Ask help from Gloss Garage Doors!
These chains do not break easily.
However, maintenance won’t hurt to ensure that it’s still working correctly.
Make sure to follow the steps above when your garage door opener chain broke.
But if it’s still slacking, replace the chains.
Chains are vulnerable to wearing and tearing.
Once they wear out, replace them right away.
With this, you can always call Gloss Garage Doors in Calgary to assist you.
We’ll fix your garage door opener chain in no time!
