About 63% of American homes have a garage or carport. This one part of the home is also one of the most used, with the door opening and closing multiple times a day. this makes it vital that you regularly maintain your door so that it stays in working order.
These garage door maintenance tips will help you keep your garage door running smoothly.
1. Lubrication
About once a year, your garage maintenance should include adding some lubricant to your garage door. You don’t need a lot, just enough to keep everything moving smoothly.
You’ll need to lubricate the overhead springs, tracks, rollers, and hinges. Check with the manufacturer of your garage door to know the right type of lubricant for your garage door.
Lubrication also reduces the amount of noise your garage door makes when opening and closing. Your neighbors will thank you.
2. Tighten the Loose Hardware
Since your garage door is constantly moving, this puts stress on the components holding it together. Over time, the hardware can become loose. This can cause the door to wobble and puts extra stress on the components.
With the appropriate tools, work your way around the garage door, tightening any hardware that may have come loose.
3. Do a Visual Inspection
Take a slow walk around your garage and do a visual inspection of each component. Look for water damage, peeling paint, chips, or dents. This is your opportunity to address minor damage or aesthetic issues.
Steel garage doors can develop rust spots. You’ll want to sand, prime, and paint these areas to prevent the rust from spreading.
A wood door will need regular treatment to prevent the wood from warping or rotting.
4. Check the Auto-Reverse
The auto-reverse feature is an important safety feature and one that you should test out once or twice a year. The system is designed to automatically reverse and move upward when it comes into contact with something while closing.
Place a large item in the path of the door. If your garage door automatically starts going up when it comes into contact with the item, then your door is working properly.
Modern systems will use a photoelectric system. Wave your foot in the sensor’s path, and it should trigger the door to reverse.
5. Address Any Repair Issues
If you find that your garage door is in need of repair, you need to immediately address these issues. You don’t need to know how to repair a garage door; call in professionals to do the garage repair work for you.
This ensures that the repairs are done correctly. They can also check for other possible issues that you may not be aware of.
Follow These Garage Door Maintenance Tips
By creating a routine out of these garage door maintenance tips, you’ll ensure your garage door has a long useful life. This saves you money by prolonging the need to replace your garage door system and allows you to enjoy a smooth running and quiet garage door.
Browse our other lifestyle and home articles for more tips and advice on maintaining your home.
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