Keeping your garage door clean and in good repair is crucial to its smooth operation. Maintaining the appearance and operation of your garage door is essential, as it is one of the largest entries to your home. Accidents and damage to garage doors can be avoided with a twice-yearly maintenance check.
Garage door repair is required if you discover an increase in noise level or the presence of rattles and shakes upon closing. You might be wondering how to get things going. Most garage door systems consist of multiple parts, any one of which could be the source of the annoying noise, rattling, or malfunction. In this manual, we’ll show you how to inspect your garage thoroughly so that it operates at peak efficiency.
Maintenance Of Garage Doors: How Important Is It?
Safety
There is a risk to you and your family if your garage door is broken or not working properly. Thousands of individuals are injured yearly in garage door accidents, but many of these injuries might be prevented with regular maintenance and repairs. A malfunctioning garage door poses the risk of serious injury or death if it closes on a person or a car.
Inadequately functioning garage doors are dangerous because of their weight and force.
If your door is squeaking or sticking, it may not shut properly, posing a safety risk. The sooner you have your garage door inspected and serviced by a professional if problems arise, the better.
Convenience
Your garage door may be the most often utilised in and out of your house. It’s inconvenient if your garage door is broken or not open properly. You could get trapped on both sides of your garage door. The last thing someone with a hectic schedule needs is a malfunctioning garage door that forces them to wait every time they need to use it. If you want your garage door to perform smoothly and efficiently, you need to maintain it regularly and ensure it stays in good shape.
Prevent Unforeseen Repairs
When your garage door breaks down unexpectedly, the expense to fix or replace it might be high. While the expense to fix a broken door is not usually high, it can add up quickly. Lack of maintenance is a leading cause of garage door replacements, and many costly breakdowns and repairs can be prevented with regular upkeep. The costs of fixing the many problems that arise from ignoring your garage door’s maintenance needs can soon add up. If left unchecked, misaligned tracks and broken springs are minor faults that can swiftly snowball into much larger issues.
You should schedule frequent checks and servicing for your garage door. Remember that garage door repairs will cost more as the problem worsens. While fixing a malfunctioning garage door mechanism quickly and cheaply is possible, putting it off will eventually force you to replace the entire mechanism or even the door itself.
Lengthen The Lifespan
It would help if you took good care of your garage door because it is an investment. The life of your garage door might be cut short by lack of care or maintenance. A poorly kept door will need to be replaced sooner than a properly maintained one due to misaligned tracks, a lack of lubrication, broken safety sensors, and malfunctioning voltage regulators. As was previously noted, garage door replacement may be costly; proper maintenance is essential to avoid having to shell out extra cash for problems that could have been prevented.
Enhance The Value Of Your Home
The installation of a brand-new garage door might be an excellent investment. Prospective buyers would always choose houses that need less repairs and upkeep, so a broken or in need of repair garage door could discourage them from purchasing your home. If you want to get the most out of your garage door and increase its appeal to potential purchasers, you should take the time to maintain it properly. As we’ve established, a functional garage door is a selling point because of the ease and efficiency with which it facilitates entry and leave.
What Kinds Of Damage Do Garage Doors Get?
Your garage door, just like the rest of your house, can be harmed by several types of weather. After exposure to the elements for a long time, the door’s paint will flake off, and rust streaks will appear. Water can also seep through door fractures, leading to rot and the eventual need to replace the entire panel.
Furthermore, internal pressures can also damage your garage door. For example, it’s not uncommon for people to pull into a garage without closing the car’s trunk or hood, resulting in broken parts for both the car and the door. These problems have simple solutions but virtually always require the assistance of a trained expert. Therefore, it is recommended that you see a professional before doing any repairs or maintenance on your door.
What Issues You Can Solve On Your Own
A professional’s assistance is necessary to repair or replace springs, cables, or rollers. Still, other problems are simple enough that you may fix them yourself, especially if you inspect the door frequently. Here are just a few examples:
- Inspection of the frame: Deterioration of the door frame might compromise its structural integrity and lead to security issues. Adjusting or lubricating the frame’s joints can sometimes fix this problem.
- Keeping the garage door lubricated: In most circumstances, lubricating the garage door’s moving parts will silence any squeaking sounds.
- Monitoring the Hinges: Every garage door has two sets of hinges, one on each panel, allowing the door to swing open and close. It’s important to inspect them because they wear out over time and can lead to more severe issues if left unchecked.
Tips For Year-Round Garage Door Care: General Maintenance
Take Some Time To Listen And Check Your Garage Door.
Your garage door’s functionality may alter from when you first installed it. Checking in on your garage door at regular intervals is a good habit to get into. Keep an eye on and ear out for abnormalities in your garage door opening and closing. If you keep an eye on the door and how it normally operates, you’ll be able to notice any discrepancies right away. The following sounds and signs may indicate that your garage door or opener needs servicing:
- Slow opening or closing
- Uneven, jerky movements
- Unusual volume
- Noises of scraping, grinding, or grating
If you detect any of these symptoms, check your entire setup to ensure everything is in order and take special note of any discrepancies you find. If you take the time to listen to and observe your garage door, you may catch a problem before it gets out of hand.
Remain Debris-Free And Clean On The Tracks.
Your garage door may move up and down because of the tracks installed on either side. At the start of each season, it’s a good idea to inspect the tracks to ensure nothing dangerous is in the wheels’ path. A minor obstacle can ruin the wheels and throw the garage door out of whack.
To inspect the tracks along the ceiling:
- Start at the highest point and work down to the lowest place using a ladder or stepping stool.
- Get rid of the dust and grime with a shop rag.
- While you’re there, inspect the tracks for rust, which could indicate that it’s time to have new ones professionally installed.
In addition, this is a good time to ensure that the garage door tracks are level. Using a long level, check that both sides are parallel. Inspect the tracks’ top and bottom levels. Your opener may only last as long as it should if your garage door tracks are even. If you find that your tracks are not in alignment, it is best to see a specialist.
Check For Loose Hardware On Your Garage Door.
Your garage door parts are littered with hardware, such as nuts, screws, bolts, and washers. Garage doors might be damaged by hardware that needs to be properly secured. Garage door hardware inspections should only require a few screwdrivers and an adjustable wrench. Verify the hardware in the following places:
- The mounting brackets for the garage door tracks
- The screws attaching the garage door opener
- The garage door’s hinged brackets between panels
Ensure all the hardware on your garage door and opener is secure to prevent damage. Your garage door’s safe operation depends on this.
Examine The Garage Door Rollers And Replace Any That Are Damaged.
When your garage door opens and closes, the rollers on the left and right sides slide along the tracks. Your garage door will roll smoothly and quietly when you have quality rollers. Damaged garage door rollers could cause a noisier, less reliable garage door. Rollers often become chipped or loose over time; if you notice any problems, replace them immediately.
Garage door rollers can be replaced by removing the roller bracket and screwing in a new roller. Replacement rollers can be found at any hardware store or garage door repair company. Since the cables of your garage door pulley system attach to the rollers at the bottom of your door, you should refrain from attempting to replace them. There is a risk of electrocution if you try to unplug these lines. To change these rollers, you need to contact an expert.
Examine The Cables And Pulleys On Your Garage Door.
The pulley system on your garage door is crucial to its operation. Your garage door opener will have to toil more if this complex system is imbalanced or damaged. Therefore, further problems may arise across the system, increasing the likelihood of a costly repair. The key to reducing maintenance expenses is catching these problems immediately.
Look for frayed or damaged cables that join the bottom roller brackets to the garage door. Keep an eye out for damaged springs or cables hanging low over your head, as these could indicate a problem with the pulley system. A professional should be contacted if these symptoms are found during the inspection. The pulley system on your garage door is subject to tremendous tension and should not be serviced by a novice.
Ensure That The Garage Door’s Moving Components Are Clean And Lubricated.
Your garage door and opener rely on many complex moving parts to function. Maintaining these components requires regular cleaning and lubrication throughout the year. Rolling hardware and garage door tracks should be lubricated with lithium grease first. Your opener will last longer due to the decreased strain on it.
Make sure to grease up your garage door’s pulleys and other working parts. If your garage door opener is chain-driven, you can reduce wear and tear by spraying the chain with lithium oil. In the long run, this is good for your opener’s efficiency.
Check The Garage Door’s Balance.
This simple maintenance check can be done whenever the weather permits, but it’s especially useful when the temperature is higher. To prevent your opener from working harder than it has to, you should check the balance of your garage door. This can cause a breakdown that is both unnecessary and premature.
Pulling the red safety cable will detach the garage door from the motor. You may now operate your garage door with the help of this. Split it in half and let go of it halfway. When you let go of a well-balanced garage door, it will remain in that position; when the balance is off, the door will either slide down or up. Call a pro if your garage door is uneven and you feel uncomfortable adjusting the high-tension springs and cables.
Check That The Door’s Auto-Reverse Features Work.
There is at least one auto-reverse safety feature on your garage door, and many have two. The first variety detects obstructions in the garage door’s closing path with a pressure sensor and automatically reverses the door’s movement. These days, this is a standard security feature on all garage doors. The second safeguard consists of two photoelectric sensors installed low to the ground, which reverse the direction of travel if they detect motion.
Contact A Reputable Professional To Inspect Your Garage Door Annually.
Maintaining an interest in the well-being of your garage door is a good idea. Garage door breakdowns will be easier to spot if you do routine maintenance. A professional garage door specialist should be called annually for maintenance. They will see problems that you may have overlooked. Add an annual inspection to your routine to even further lessen the possibility of a broken garage door.
In conclusion, regular maintenance is crucial for the safety and functionality of your garage door. A biannual check-up can prevent injuries and costly repairs, ensuring the door operates smoothly. Proper care also extends the lifespan of your door and can increase your home’s value. Pay attention to the tracks, lubricate moving parts, and check for loose components to maintain safe and reliable operation. Regular inspections help identify issues early, keeping your garage door in top condition for years.
