Top 10 Essential Garage Door Maintenance Tips
Top Garage Door Maintenance Tips to Implement in Your Routine
For homeowners, garage door maintenance is essential to ensure long-term efficiency, reduce repair costs, and maintain family safety. It’s a major upfront and ongoing investment that not only enhances your curb appeal but also provides security for your vehicles and your belongings. If you’re like the average homeowner, you likely use your garage door multiple times a day. The way garage door systems work is quite complex, involving many components, including torsion springs, garage door tracks, sensors, and garage door openers that must function seamlessly together.
However, if preventative maintenance isn’t in your routine, small issues can escalate into major garage door problems in the future. To keep your garage door functioning properly and looking its best, it’s essential to understand the basics of garage door maintenance. Since 1958, Dodds Doors has been providing Ontario homeowners with reliable garage door solutions tailored to their specific needs. While we always encourage you to seek professional maintenance, there are certain maintenance tasks you can perform on your own.
With regular maintenance on your garage door, it should remain beautiful and continue to function like new. Now, let’s dive into our essential garage door maintenance tips.
Why Garage Door Maintenance is Important
While your garage door has a very specific purpose (to open and close as needed), many complex moving garage door parts have to function in this process. What’s more, the garage door should open and close smoothly with minimal noise.
However, daily wear and tear without regular garage door maintenance can lead to a range of issues, including misalignment and a noisy garage door operation. These issues not only compromise the performance of your garage door but also compromise your safety. Here are the key reasons why maintaining your garage door is essential:
Your Safety
A malfunctioning garage door is a safety risk for your family and pets. For example, failure of the reverse feature could cause severe injury or death. A quick and simple test of this safety feature is to place an object at the bottom of the door, and when it closes, the door should reverse. If the door does not reverse when it encounters the object, you should seek out the necessary repairs.
Avoid Unexpected Repairs
When your garage door breaks down, it can lead to costly repairs and even replacement. However, the best way to avoid unexpected expenses is by conducting regular garage door maintenance inspections. Neglecting your garage door also reduces its lifespan. For example, a lack of regular lubrication, unaligned tracks, loose bolts, and a broken spring can irreversibly damage a garage door. But when you have a standardized set of garage door maintenance strategies, you can avoid unexpected repairs and future breakdowns.
Increase the Value of Your Home
A garage door that is in good condition can increase the value of your home. Appraisers and prospective buyers will regard a well-maintained garage door as a sign that the property has been adequately cared for over the years. Additionally, a functional garage door enhances your home’s curb appeal, making it more attractive from the street.
Common Garage Door Issues include:
Learning what garage door maintenance tips are important, but so is being aware of the common garage door issues. When you are aware of the common issues with garage doors, you will be able to tailor your routine maintenance to address those specific areas of trouble effectively:
- Faulty garage door opener
- Broken springs
- Noisy garage door opening and closing
- Frayed cables
- Misaligned or damaged tracks
- Damaged rollers and hinges
Now that we’ve uncovered why garage door maintenance is crucial and the common issues that result from a lack of maintenance, let’s dive into the essential garage door maintenance tips.
The Essential Garage Door Maintenance Tips
Watch as you can avoid unexpected garage door repairs and extend the lifespan of your garage door by following these essential garage door maintenance tips:
Watch and Listen to How the Garage Door Operates
The first step to maintaining your garage door is to pay close attention to it while it is in motion. The closer you keep an eye on your door, the quicker you will be able to spot signs of wear or malfunction. Check the garage door to see how it moves up and down. Does it rise smoothly? Does it get stuck while it’s opening or closing? If you notice jerky movements or hear scraping noises, that’s a good indicator that your garage door needs repair.
A garage door in good condition is quiet and operates smoothly, moving up and down without hesitation. If the garage door doesn’t move up and down quietly, there’s an issue with the rollers or the door tracks that manoeuvre and guide its movement. Additionally, we encourage you to check the tracks, garage door cables, and springs on both sides of the door to ensure they are symmetrical. If they aren’t, the door is likely misaligned and needs repair.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Lubrication is one of the most beneficial things you can do to maintain a garage door, as it will reduce stress and friction on all moving door components. The simple act of lubricating can help stave off the need for a replacement garage door.
Lubricate a garage door at least twice a year. Because of the winter Ontarians experience, it’s especially important to ensure that all moving parts are free from ice and debris. However, do not use WD-40 on the moving parts. This product tends to accumulate more debris and can ultimately cause more harm than good. Instead, we recommend using a high-quality lubricant, such as white lithium grease. Furthermore, a spray lubricant is ideal for coating overhead springs.
Tighten the Garage Door Hardware
Your garage door moves up and down thousands of times over its lifespan. The movement causes vibration, which, over time, may loosen the track and hardware. So, as the next part of garage door maintenance, you will want to ensure that you examine the brackets that hold the door’s tracks. You can use a socket wrench to tighten any loose bolts and brackets if necessary. Regularly inspecting these components can prevent more significant issues and make sure your garage door stands the test of time.
Clean the Garage Door and Re-Paint When Necessary
It’s a simple yet effective garage door maintenance tip, but cleaning the door regularly will do wonders. Always keep your garage door looking fresh and clean. For a steel door, check for rust spots that require priming and painting. If it is a wooden door, pay close attention to warping and peeling paint.
You can use a light detergent and warm water to clean the surface of the garage door when you notice any buildup of dirt or grime. When buildup is left on the door’s surface, it can cause scratches and deterioration over time. Taking a few moments on a regular basis to clean your garage door will not only ensure it looks good but also prevent premature wear and tear.
Ensure the Garage Door is Balanced
The next part of maintaining your garage door is ensuring the door is properly balanced by the springs. If not properly balanced, the electric motor will have to work twice as hard. If a garage door is balanced correctly, it only requires minimal force to move up and down.
When the door is halfway open, ensure it remains stationary. If it doesn’t, it can mean that the springs are worn out or are improperly balanced. It’s important to note that only a qualified garage door professional should perform spring adjustment or replacement, so if yours is imbalanced, reach out to our professionals.
Garage Door Opener Maintenance
The garage door maintenance is an integral part of your door’s functionality. You will want to observe and listen to the opener for any unusual noises that indicate a mechanical issue or a worn-out part. You want your garage door opener to operate smoothly and efficiently, ensuring it opens and closes without any hitches.
Replace the Weatherstripping When Needed
The rubber weatherstripping is located at the bottom of your garage door. Its primary purpose is to guard against water, dirt, dust, rodents, and cold air. When the weatherstripping of your garage door needs replacement, you will notice gaps or cracks along the bottom, allowing moisture to seep through. You will also find weatherstripping across the top and down each side of the garage door. Ensure that the weatherstripping is in good shape, carry out regular inspections, and replace the seal when you notice it is cracked or brittle.
Check the Auto-Reverse Feature
Automatic garage doors have an auto-reverse safety feature. For a pressure sensor system, place an object at the bottom of the door, and the door will stop and reverse when it touches it. Test a photoelectric system by waving your hand or foot in front of the sensor. The door will retract as soon as it detects an obstruction.
Clear the Tracks
The tracks are an essential part of the operation of your garage door, so as the next part of our essential garage door maintenance tips, you should occasionally examine the tracks to ensure there is no debris or rust. Use a level to ensure the tracks are perfectly horizontal and vertical for a smooth garage door motion.
Check the Cables
You should check the lift cables for broken strands from a safe distance. However, never touch the high-tension cable wires, as they can be dangerous if they snap. If you are uncomfortable with the garage door maintenance tip, our professionals are happy to assist.
Replace the Rollers
Our garage door experts recommend that you inspect the garage door rollers at least twice a year. Additionally, you should replace them every five to seven years. Ensure that you replace cracked, worn, or chipped rollers as soon as possible.
Garage Door Maintenance: The Dodds Doors Style
If you follow the garage door maintenance tips above, you can significantly prolong the lifespan of your garage door and ensure it continues to look its best. A garage door is an investment just like the rest of your home, so maximize its value by ensuring its functionality for years to come.
While most homeowners can handle minor repairs, such as weatherstripping and painting, it’s best to call the professionals at Dodds Doors for serious garage door repairs, including track realignment and spring replacement. We consistently deliver high-quality service, striving to exceed your expectations with every task we undertake.
Looking for peace of mind, knowing you’re working with a reliable company that won’t rest until you’re completely happy? As a proudly Canadian business since 1958, we’ve helped over 800,000 Canadians and counting. But don’t just take our word for it—find out why our customers love us.
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Contact us today at 1-877-503-6337 and experience the Dodds difference!