Garage doors are a great way to give anyone visiting your home immediate access to them and also to keep them out when you’re not there. However, their aesthetic can sometimes ruin your home’s appeal as they quickly wear and tear because they’re exposed to all the elements.
That is why regular garage door maintenance is so key. It will help you not only preserve the aesthetic appeal of your home but also ensure that your garage door is always in optimal condition and operating at peak efficiency. In this article, we will go over all the tips and tricks that can help you keep your garage door in great shape all year round.
Why Regular Garage Door Maintenance is Important
There are several reasons why it’s important to look after your garage doors and why they probably require more effort and care than some other parts of your home. The first one is that they’re constantly exposed to the elements – wind, rain, sunshine, and they have to withstand all kinds of weather conditions, which ultimately wears them out.
Along with that, they’re also in constant use – most probably, you use them at least twice a day, likely more, and so that also causes wear and tear. But along with those two factors, there are five more reasons you should regularly do garage door maintenance. Let’s check them out.
1. Deteriorating Door Springs
If your door’s springs aren’t lubricated on time, they can start to snap and become brittle the more time passes by. This, in turn, can lead to both safety and mechanical problems, which will require you to devote more time and money to fixing the door.
2. Safety Issues
A garage door that hasn’t been properly maintained can be dangerous and lead to some pretty bad accidents.
3. Noisy Doors
A garage door that has gone through proper maintenance will close and open smoothly without making too much noise. On the other hand, a garage door that has been neglected and not taken care of can make a ton of noise when being opened or closed, which might be a problem, especially if you leave for work or if you come home late and you risk waking the entire house.
4. Rusty Tracks
When you neglect to lubricate the track for a long time, that can lead to the tracks becoming corroded and rusty. This can lead to them getting broken, and you have to pay for expensive repairs and even replacement.
5. Dirt Build up
As we already said, garages are exposed to all kinds of weather conditions, and so it’s easy to figure out that they do accumulate a ton of grime and dirt over the span of a few months, let alone an entire year. Usually, one of the easiest to spot signs that it’s time to do garage door maintenance is if you see dirt built up near the bottom of the garage door.
What are the Different Kinds of Door Damage?
Along with all other parts of your home, your garage door is also susceptible to damage from different kinds of weather conditions. When the door has been exposed to the elements for a long period of time, you will start to see rust streaks on the door, and the paint will get ruined. Additionally, the door may develop cracks that enable water to get in and cause damage that will later on lead to you having to replace the entire door.
Along with that, inside forces can also cause damage to your garage door. That includes all kinds of hits from people and vehicles – it’s a fairly common thing to see someone driving into the garage without closing their car’s trunk or hood, leading to damage to both the car and the garage door.
The good thing is that all these kinds of issues can be easily fixed; however, you will need the help of a professional in almost all instances. And so, if you see that your door is having any issues or you just want to do maintenance, it’s best to seek the help of a professional before doing anything on your own.
What’s Included in Garage Door Maintenance?
Typically when we talk about garage door maintenance, we’re usually talking about several tasks that have to be completed regularly and by a professional to ensure your door works optimally. They include:
- Lubrication rollers, gears, and other moving parts with a silicone spray
- Inspecting the springs for damage
- Cleaning the track
- Replacing old weather stripping around the perimeter of the door (if necessary)
- Tightening the fasteners
- Inspect all the components – hinges, brackets, pulleys, and cables for any signs of damage or wear to determine whether they need to be changed or repaired.
What Issues You Can Fix On Your Own
Even though a professional’s help is required when you need repairs or replacements of cables, springs, or rollers, there are some issues that you can fix on your own and that can be easily done, especially if you regularly check the door yourself.
Some of them include:
- Examining the Frame: If the frame of your door gets deteriorated that can lead to structural issues and cause safety problems later on. In some instances, this issue can be resolved by simply re-adjusting or lubricating the joints of the frame.
- Lubricating the Garage Door: When you hear a squeaky noise, in most cases you will be able to get rid of it by simply lubricating your garage door.
- Checking the Hinges: You have two sets of hinges on every garage door and they are what enable the garage door panel to go up and down when it opens and closes. It’s vital to check them out, as they tend to get worn out over time and may cause bigger problems.
In Conclusion
Doing garage door maintenance is the only way to avoid having to spend a ton of money for a repair or a replacement. The best practice is to schedule annual maintenance and stick to it, as it not only protects your garage door from damage but also makes sure that your unit’s life is extended and that the door is working in the best way possible.
