Is Garage Door Maintenance Important?

Should You Consider Garage Door Maintenance?

When considering home maintenance, things like roof inspections and spring cleaning may come to mind. How recently have you considered your garage door? As the largest moving object in your home, a malfunctioning garage door can quickly become a hazard to your family and a strain on your wallet. That’s why garage door maintenance is an important part of caring for your home.

Specifically, garage door maintenance is important for three reasons:

1. It makes sure your garage door is operating safely to protect your family.
2. It helps you spend a little on garage door maintenance instead of a lot on replacement parts or even a new garage door.
3. It prevents the inconvenience of a garage door that breaks suddenly.

So, the answer is yes, you should maintain your garage door. But what does that mean for you as a homeowner? Below, we’ll outline the steps that you can complete to keep your garage door in working order and the steps you should leave to a garage door professional. 

Steps You Can Complete

As a homeowner, you can take several actions to maintain your garage door’s visual and functional aspects. The best part is that you don’t need handyman experience to do these jobs! You can perform garage door maintenance as long as you have a strong pair of arms and a free afternoon.

Watch and Listen to Door Operation

Every couple of months, you should make a point to listen to your door open and close while watching the hardware operate. This is a great way to catch early signs of an issue, like grinding or squeaking noises. Also, while watching, notice if any interior parts seem to catch or strain during the cycle.

Clean the Tracks

Over time, the interior tracks that run along your garage door and ceiling become blocked with debris and dust. This can cause rollers to pop out of place or accelerate unnecessary damage to your garage door system. That’s why you should blow out the tracks and wipe them down often.

Visually Check Rollers, Springs, and Cables

Inspect the rollers, springs, and cables during your watching and listening routine for your door. These three important parts carry a lot of tension from your heavy garage door. Check for visible wear like rusting, elongation, and fraying.

Replace Weatherstripping

Located along the bottom of your garage door, weatherstripping helps prevent water and cold air from entering your garage. However, it will eventually wear, creating a poor seal between your garage door and the floor. You should check the weatherstripping for cracking or damage, replacing it when the time comes.

Clean or Paint the Door Exterior

If your door exterior looks worn, wipe it down with dish soap and spray it off with a hose. This will go a long way toward improving its look. Also, if your door is reaching the 5- or 10-year mark, you may consider a fresh coat of paint. This will bring new life to your curb appeal.