Your garage door is one of the most critical parts of your home, providing a secure entryway for you and your vehicles. However, being the largest moving part in your home, it can be prone to damage and wear and tear, which can be expensive to repair or replace.
Just like any other part of your home, it needs regular maintenance to ensure it’s in good working order and continues to provide reliable service. Proper garage door maintenance will extend its life, reduce the need for costly repairs, and ensure that it operates more smoothly and quietly.
You can take a few steps to keep your garage door in tip-top shape. This blog post will discuss some information and advice for keeping your garage door running smoothly.
What’s the Importance of Regular Garage Door Maintenance?
Maintaining your garage door is essential to keeping it in good working order and ensuring that it continues to provide you with a secure, reliable entryway. Here are a few benefits of regular garage door maintenance:
Prevent Irreversible Damage
The garage door system is made of several moving parts that will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. When these parts become worn or damaged, they can cause the whole system to malfunction and even damage other moving parts.
Regularly checking and servicing will help identify any potential problems before they become severe and irreversible issues that require costly repairs or replacement of parts.
Prolong the Life of Your Garage Door
Regular use of your garage doors puts a lot of strain on the system, making it susceptible to wear and tear. Proper maintenance can help extend your door’s life by ensuring all the parts are in good working order and replacing any worn or damaged components.
This will improve the security of your home and eliminate the trouble and expense of replacing the garage door in the future.
Cost-effective
Regularly servicing your garage door is a cost-effective way to keep it running smoothly. Small repairs and minor adjustments can be made for much less than the cost of replacing parts or even the entire garage door system.
This will help save you money in the long run. Checking, cleaning, and inspecting all parts of your garage door will ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently for years to come.
Maintain Security at Your Home
A broken garage door is not only a major inconvenience, but it is also a security risk. Ensuring your door is well-maintained and in good working order will help keep your home secure.
Faulty parts or worn-out components can make the garage door vulnerable to intruders, so making sure it’s regularly serviced is essential for your safety and peace of mind.
What are the Top Preventative Measures To Keep Your Garage Door Rolling Smoothly?
Preventing problems before they occur is the best way to keep your garage door rolling smoothly. It also saves you time and money in the long run, as you won’t have to worry about costly repairs or replacements.
Here are nine preventative measures you can take to ensure your garage door remains in good working order.
1. Clear the Area Around the Garage Door
Many homeowners store items in their garages, which are often left neglected. These can often accumulate dust, dirt, grease, and other debris over time that can interfere with the operation of your garage door sensors.
Regularly cleaning the area around the door helps keep your garage door working properly and prevents dirt and dust from clogging up its moving parts.
Organize your items regularly and place them away from the garage door sensors and tracks to avoid disrupting their operation. Sweep the ground for leaves and other debris. Also, check the drainage and gutters for any leaks that may cause water damage and affect the door’s performance.
2. Clean the Garage Door Track
The garage door track is one of the essential parts of the system and needs to be regularly cleaned for it to run smoothly.
Cleaning the tracks will prevent dirt, dust, and debris from building up and interfering with its operation. Ensuring the track is appropriately aligned and checking for any dents or obstructions helps keep the garage door running properly.
Inspect your garage door track for any loose bolts and cracks. You can use a socket wrench to tighten any loose bolts, hinges, and track hardware, but make sure not to over-tighten them, as this could damage the track.
If there are any cracks or signs of wear, you should get them repaired by a garage door technician.
3. Lubricate Your Garage Door
Garage door parts need to be lubricated regularly to keep them functioning properly and prevent wear and tear.
This simple yet effective measure helps ensure that the garage door runs smoothly and efficiently, reducing noise and preventing any unexpected issues. It can also add years to the life of your garage door.
For best results, use a silicone-based spray lubricant on all moving parts, such as the garage door springs, tracks, and hinges.
You can apply some lubricant to the torsion spring and use white lithium grease on the garage door opener’s chain or screw for additional protection. Keep any excess lubricant away from the sensors, which could interfere with the opener’s operation.
4. Test the Garage Door Opener
The garage door opener is the heart of your garage door system and needs to be tested regularly. This ensures it functions correctly and that all safety features are in place.
A broken garage door can be a safety hazard, so make sure to periodically check the door opener for any defects to prevent serious injury.
Most garage doors have a laser or pressure sensor with an auto-reverse feature. For garage door openers with a laser sensor, place an object, like a wooden block, in the direction of the sensor.
The garage door should automatically stop and reverse direction when it senses an obstruction in its path. For a pressure sensor, place the block under the garage door. The garage door should stop and reverse direction when it detects the pressure.
If the auto-reverse feature does not work, it’s crucial to seek professional help immediately and not attempt to repair it yourself. Serious injuries can occur when working with a faulty garage door opener, so it’s best to leave the repair work to a garage door professional.
The solution may even just be to get a new garage door opener, but it’s best to call in a professional to make sure nothing breaks.
5. Check the Weather Seal
The weather seal is essential to the garage door system and helps keep out drafts, dust, dirt, and insects. It also protects your garage door against air leaks, water damage, and other elements. Inspect the weather stripping regularly and replace it if it shows any signs of wear or tear.
Most weather stripping is found along the bottom and sides of the garage door. Check the rubber weatherstripping, especially when the seasons change.
Make sure the seal is not torn, cracked, or loose, as this can allow cold air and moisture to enter the garage. This can cause damage to your belongings and may even result in mold or mildew growth if left unchecked.
You can easily reattach any loose weatherstripping. If it’s badly worn or damaged, replace the weatherstripping immediately with a new product from your local home improvement store.
The rubber weatherstripping of wood doors is typically nailed in place, so you will need to use a hammer or pry bar to remove it. Make sure to nail the new weatherstripping when you replace it, as wood doors are especially prone to water damage.
6. Wash Your Garage Door Regularly
Garage doors are often exposed to the elements, dust, dirt, and chemicals from your car, so it’s also essential to regularly clean your garage door. Not only does this help keep your garage door looking great, but it can prolong the door’s life by preventing rust and other forms of corrosion.
Clean your garage door based on the type of material it’s made from. Use a mild cleaner and a soft brush or cloth if you have wood doors. You can use a power washer set on low pressure for steel doors, and for fiberglass doors, you can use an all-purpose cleaner.
Regardless of what type of garage door you have, inspect it after washing it. Check for any holes, rust spots, chipped or peeling paint, or other signs of damage. Remove chipped and peeling paint and rust spots by sanding and repainting them. Any existing damage should be promptly repaired before it worsens and leads to extensive repairs.
7. Conduct a Safety Test
A properly maintained garage door helps eliminate malfunctions and accidental entrapment. A safety test is one way to ensure your garage door operates safely. Aside from the auto-reverse feature, you should also check the garage door balance and the photoelectric system.
To check for door balance, close the garage door, disconnect the automatic opener by pulling the release handle, and manually lift your garage door until it’s halfway open.
The garage door is properly balanced if the door stays in this position without going up or down. However, if the door starts to rise or fall, it’s improperly balanced and needs to be serviced.
The photoelectric system sensors are placed on either side of the garage door frame and aid the auto-reverse feature. It works by emitting a light beam across the opening of the door.
To test the sensors, set the door downward and place an object in the beam and door’s path. If the sensors are working correctly, then the door should immediately stop and reverse when it detects the disruption.
8. Inspect the Garage Door Parts
It’s also essential to inspect the parts of your garage door regularly and ensure they are in good working condition. This includes:
- Garage door springs: Look for any signs of corrosion, fraying, or damage on the garage door spring and replace them if needed.
- Rollers: Check for worn-out or loose parts and ensure the rollers are secure and in working order. You should securely fasten the roller brackets to the door track.
- Lift cables: Inspect lift cables and extension springs for any fraying, broken strands, or damage.
- Bolts, hinges, and screws: Tighten any loose bolts, hinges, and screws on the door. Note that a technician must handle bolts that are painted red.
- Backup battery: Inspect the backup batteries every so often to ensure that they are in good condition and if they need to be replaced. You should also check the light bulbs while you’re at it.
9. Listen to Any Unusual Sounds
Pay close attention to any unusual noises that your garage door makes. This can be an indication of a problem or malfunction with the door.
Grinding, scraping, and squealing sounds could mean worn-out rollers, loose cables, broken springs, or misaligned tracks. A certified technician should inspect any loud noises as soon as possible.
What are the Most Recommended Tips To Extend the Lifespan of Your Garage Door?
Proper maintenance is key to extending the lifespan of your garage door and keeping it functioning correctly. Here are some helpful tips.
Limit Your Use of Garage Doors
Many houses have an attached garage that is used frequently. Instead of relying on the garage door to open and close multiple times daily, use the house door more often. This will reduce wear and tear on the opener system and help save energy.
Replace Any Parts That Needs Replacing
Many common door issues can be fixed by replacing worn-out or broken parts. This includes springs, cables, rollers, and tracks. Most of these you can fix yourself, but a professional technician can identify which components need replacement and ensure that they are properly replaced with the correct parts.
Contact a Garage Door Specialist
Contact a professional technician if you encounter any issues with your garage door. They will be able to diagnose the problem and provide you with an effective solution. A specialist can also offer advice on maintaining and caring for your garage door.
Schedule Your Garage Door Maintenance Today With Door-Mart Garage Doors
A properly maintained garage door will help keep your home safe and secure. If you need garage door professional help, contact Door-Mart Garage Doors today. We provide maintenance, repair, and installation services for garage doors and openers.
Our experienced technicians are certified and trained to inspect and repair your garage door system quickly and efficiently.
Schedule an appointment today and let our experts help keep your garage door in good working condition.
