Your garage door is one of the commonly used entrances and exits to your home, most likely being opened and closed multiple times a day. This much activity can cause wear and tear, which can result in damage to your door.
It’s important to maintain your garage door and its entire system to ensure it remains in great shape for years to come. Here are four tips to help extend the life of your garage door.
Create a monthly maintenance schedule.
Once every month, go through your maintenance checklist to ensure everything is running efficiently. Conduct visual inspections, a door balance test, a safety reverse mechanism test, and a photo eye test.
Keeping your garage system clean and repairing things as needed helps extend the overall life of your garage door. It also keeps small repairs small, helping you save money!
Always use the door correctly.
This may seem like common sense, but mistreating or misusing your garage door puts unnecessary strain on it, often requiring a replacement much sooner than expected. Remember to operate the door only when necessary—perhaps keep kids away from the garage door opener—and don’t ever force it opened or closed along the track while it’s moving.
Inspect all the hardware.
While conducting your visual inspections, use a socket wrench or a screwdriver to tighten anything that is loose, like bolts or fasteners. Check the garage door rollers that aren’t attached to the lift system; they will look lopsided or even crack as they age. If you see this happening, you’ll need to install replacement rollers. If you see excessive rust or broken strands in the cables, call a technician to help you replace those, as well.
You should also lube the hinges, tracks, and rollers of your garage door at least twice a year.
Don’t forget about the garage door opener.
Before you complete your monthly general maintenance, be sure to check out your garage door opener. Change the lightbulb, if necessary, and replace the batteries in each remote.
Test to see if you need a new backup battery by unplugging the garage door opener and trying to open the door with the button on the wall. If the door doesn’t open, make sure you get a new backup.
If you notice that the springs need to be replaced or the door is off the track, don’t try to make these repairs on your own. Your safety is the priority, especially if you aren’t sure how your entire garage door system operates.
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