Originally posted on July 30, 2021. Updated on April 22, 2024.
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:
- It makes sure your garage door is operating safely to protect your family.
- It helps you spend a little on garage door maintenance instead of a lot on replacement parts or even a new garage door.
- 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.
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Steps You Should Leave to the Professionals
Because even the smallest garage doors weigh several hundred pounds, you must approach garage door maintenance carefully. That’s why the steps we’ll discuss next should be left to a professional garage door technician. They have the experience and equipment necessary to care for your door without the risk of injury or unnecessary damage to your garage door.
Door Balance Test
Technicians complete this test to ensure that your garage door springs balance your door’s weight. This keeps unnecessary strain from damaging your garage door parts.
Lubrication and Tightening of Moving Parts
Because garage door systems have multiple moving parts, it’s important to allow a technician to lubricate and tighten everything annually. This prevents rollers from slipping off the track, quiets door operation, and does many other necessary jobs.
Check the Garage Door Opener
A technician will also examine your garage door opener, especially testing its force and limits. This ensures the longevity of your opener, saving you from replacing this expensive motor.
Test Safety System
Testing the garage door safety system is vital for garage door maintenance. This mechanism prevents a door from injuring you or a family member through its use of motion sensors and automatic reversal.
Roller, Spring, and Cable Replacement
You should leave these jobs to a professional if it’s time for various garage door parts replacements. They can easily replace a roller, spring, or cable without injury to a person or damage to your door.
Contact Us for Garage Door Maintenance Near You
Call us at (757) 482-9350 or contact us at Garage Door Enterprises the next time you need assistance with garage door maintenance. We offer the best garage door service and can recommend products, answer questions, and respond quickly to your garage door needs.
