Dust, Sand and Cotton Lint

A large share of what we get called to on the South Plains is not a broken door at all. It is contamination that presents exactly like a fault.

Ambient dust

Settles on photo-eye lenses gradually. The door starts refusing to close intermittently, usually in the evening when low sun is also hitting the lenses. Cleaning both lenses with a soft cloth resolves it entirely.

Wind-driven sand

Different mechanism, worse outcome. It is driven into the track and into the roller bearings under pressure, where it acts as a grinding compound. This is why Lubbock doors get noisy years before the nylon is worn. Flushing the track out twice a year is genuinely worthwhile here.

Cotton lint and gin trash

Seasonal, from October through December, and unique to this region. Lint mats rather than settling: it gathers along the seal line, packs the bottom track and clings to lenses, and it holds moisture in a way sand does not. If a door starts misbehaving in November, this is the first thing to check.

How to tell contamination from a fault

Contamination is intermittent and improves after cleaning. A mechanical fault is consistent and gets worse. If the door closed fine last week, nothing has been adjusted, and there has been wind or harvest activity since, clean before you call anyone.

The maintenance that actually helps

Wipe both lenses monthly during dust and harvest season. Flush the bottom track in spring and again after harvest. Use a lubricant that does not go tacky in heat, because a tacky residue turns airborne dust into a grinding paste.

Free estimate — no charge for the visit

Tell us what the door is doing and we will tell you what it normally means in Lubbock. Every job is quoted in person and in writing before any work starts.

Call (806) 639-4811 Request a callback