Garage doors usually open and close several times a day, but few homeowners do regular inspections and maintenance. In fact, the garage door is often the most neglected among all parts of a house. This applies despite frequent use and makes up a significant part of the external appearance of a house.
Most homeowners only pay attention to their garage doors when something goes wrong and a repair is inevitable. As you probably already know, frequent repairs can be costly. Apart from this, high costs are also associated with an early door change. That means you have to carry out regular garage door coordination and preventive maintenance measures.
Below are ten tips for garage door maintenance that you should always keep in mind.
Check the hardware
You can easily perform a quick hardware check by listening to your garage door every time you open and close the garage door. Ideally, it should move effortlessly without making too much noise. Jerky movements, grinding noises and scratching noises indicate a problem. Also take time to make sure that all moving parts are tight. You can use a socket wrench to attach loose reel mounts or screws.
Replace sealing strips
You will find the rubber weather protection strip on the bottom of your garage door. Check the condition regularly. If rubber already looks brittle or cracked, replace it. Remember that the sealing strip not only keeps elements away, but also makes your door more energy efficient. Therefore, maintenance is vital.
Check the balance
The first thing you need to do to check the balance of your garage door is to disconnect the opener from the door. Then manually move your door halfway up or down. The door should stay in place. If not, it means only one thing: it is not balanced, and you need a garage door repair professional to fix the problem.
Replace the batteries in the remote control
As already mentioned, garage doors open and close countless times a year. For this reason, you need to replace the remote control batteries regularly. Read the garage door remote control manual as it should include information on how and when to replace the batteries.
Lubricate the moving parts
Screws, nuts, rollers and springs connect garage doors. Every time you press the remote control, these moving parts can open and close the door. Therefore, lubricating these moving parts is critical. Use a spray lubricant for the springs. It is best to use white lithium grease for the screw or chain. Just be careful not to smear oil on the track if you don't want your garage door to slide or lose your balance.
Check the cables
Cables that lift your door are high voltage cables and have enough power to injure and kill a person. So never tinker with it. Instead, check the condition so that you know whether you already need professional, competent help. Check the bottom of the roll holder for damage and broken strands.
Test the security functions of your door
Place a block of wood under the path of the door and check if it still stops and reverses direction as soon as it comes into contact with the object. If so, your garage door is still in good condition. If not, contact a garage door specialist to fix the problem immediately, or have a new garage door opener installed.
Remove rust
Rust accumulates on steel doors. Find the areas with rust and sand and prime them before painting over them. If you leave your garage door painted for protection, this also applies if it is a wooden door. Also, don't forget to check both steel and wooden doors for damage.
Erase the tracks
Make sure that the rails on each side of the garage door are free of dirt. Use a spirit level to check the solder. Always remember that major adjustments to the tracks may only be made by professional garage door technicians to avoid exacerbating the problem.
Clean your garage door
Finally, you should wash your door with an all-purpose cleaner. Make it something of a fun family activity. You can also do this after washing your car every weekend. Cleaning removes both accumulated grease and dirt, thereby maintaining the flawless appearance of your garage door.
Conclusion
Use the maintenance tips above to make sure your garage door lasts long and you save on repair costs. You can easily follow most of the suggestions here and only take a few minutes to complete. It is also a good idea to contact a garage door specialist to do inspections every two years. Your garage door at home is more than a simple protection for your car. It is part of your home. Therefore, keep it fully functional, clean and safe all year round.
