6 Maintenance Tips To Help Prolong Your Garage Door’s Life
A garage door can be a significant investment, and it’s only natural that you want to make sure you get the most out of it.
As one of the most used and largest moving parts of your home, keeping it in good condition is essential to maintaining its functionality, safety, and longevity. Like everything else in your home, garage door maintenance should be part of your annual routine.
From ensuring that it’s regularly maintained and serviced to taking care of any minor problems as they arise, here are some essential maintenance tips that can help prolong the life of your garage door.
1. Clean Regularly
It goes without saying that regular cleaning is essential for keeping your garage door looking good as new for years to come. This includes wiping down the door with a damp cloth or spraying it with a hose to remove any dirt or debris. The primary goal is not only to keep it looking good, but to remove the harsh corrosive substances in the snow melt your vehicle brings into the garage in winter. Removing this from the bottom 3-4 inches of your door will go a long way to preventing corrosion, as will pushing out any standing water or slush with a floor squeegee.
2. Fix Loose Hardware
The easiest way to maintain your garage door is to make sure that all of its hardware is properly tightened. Over time, screws can become loose or worn out, so it’s important to check them periodically and tighten any that need it.
Loose nuts, bolts, and screws can cause various problems, including the door not opening or closing properly and misalignment. Ideally hardware inspection should be done at least once a year, but more frequently if your area experiences extreme weather conditions. This primarily involves checking the fasteners on the door hinges to ensure they have not become loose and tightening any that are loose.
3. Lubricate Moving Parts
Regular lubrication of rollers and hinges is essential to keeping your garage door’s moving parts running smoothly. Lubricant should be applied twice a year to the rollers and each side of each hinge (where they bend). Applying a small amount of a good quality spray lubricant can help reduce the friction between the parts and keep them from squeaking or sticking. Just make sure that you don’t use too much, as this could cause more harm than good. Your door will operate much more smoothly and quietly if this simple step is done twice a year. For our Canadian climate, we recommend lubricating in Fall and hallway through Winter as those cold months are the hardest on garage doors.
4. Check for Rust and Corrosion
If your garage door is made of metal, rust and corrosion can not only cause the door to look unsightly but also weaken its structural integrity, leading to bigger problems down the line.
To prevent rust and corrosion, you should inspect your garage door at least once a year and apply a protective coating if necessary. If you spot any areas that are particularly rusty, you will likely have to sand the corrosion away before priming and painting the area. Unless removed, rust is very difficult to slow down once it has started.
5. Inspect Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping is a layer of material that helps protect your garage door from wind and other elements. Over time, this can wear down or become brittle and cracked because of regular exposure to sunlight and moisture.
Inspecting the weatherstripping periodically will help prevent any air leaks and drafts around the door. If necessary, replace any worn-out weatherstripping with new material.
6. Test Safety Features
Garage doors are equipped with safety features, such as force detection sensors and photo eyes, which are designed to detect any object that is blocking the door’s path, preventing it from closing on something or someone.
It’s important to test these safety features so you can be sure they are working properly and your family is safe. If you notice any problems, contact a specialist like The Door House right away for assistance in troubleshooting and repairs.
Extend your garage door’s life today
Just like any mechanical device or machine, garage doors need regular maintenance to stay in top shape. Taking the time to inspect all the components of your garage door can help prevent long-term damage and costly repairs.
At The Door House, we believe that preventive maintenance is always better than reactive repair. For more than 25 years, our team of experts have helped homeowners in the Calgary area maintain and prolong the lifespan of their garage doors.
For more information about our services, call us at 403-543-6900 or contact us online to receive a free quote.