The following statements may, at first glance, seem obvious to you, or you may not think they're important. Our professional advice, however, is to heed the warnings and tips in this post. Many home and business owners run into serious problems by skipping regular inspections, being careless, or attempting to do work they're unqualified to perform. This information will help keep you safe and your garage door in good shape longer so you can avoid unnecessary repairs or the need for premature replacement.
If you’ve ever dealt with a broken garage door spring and have had to lift your door manually, you're well aware of this. The average garage door weighs between 130 and 350 pounds, and contemporary doors composed primarily of windows can weigh over 400! Many people don’t realize how heavy their garage door truly is because it’s built with a counterweight system of springs that makes lifting the door much easier. If these springs break (and they eventually will), your garage door will be dead weight you probably won't be able to budge on your own. (So don't try.)
As mentioned above, springs don’t last forever. On average, they'll last for about 10,000 cycles. (Opening and closing your garage door once is one cycle.) According to Garaga, if you use a single-car garage door an average of four times a day, your springs will last for about seven years before they need to be replaced. Lubricate your spring system with oil at least once a year to extend its lifetime.
Just like your car and your furnace, your garage door needs to be proactively maintained if you want it to last as long as possible. Some garage door companies offer preventive maintenance service contracts to keep your door on track. A professional garage door technician can inspect the entire system, lubricate and tighten parts as necessary, and make sure everything operates smoothly. If a part is wearing out, the technician can replace it before it affects your entire system, saving you from costly repairs down the road.
Some garage door repairmen will do the minimum work for the maximum price. Others will lie and tell you something is wrong when everything is working perfectly just so they can charge you for it. To avoid being scammed by a shady garage door tech, be sure to do some research before hiring someone to repair, install, or inspect your garage door. We’ve written a couple of great articles on this topic. They'll tell you exactly what to look for when searching for a technician and what to be wary of.
If you have any questions or concerns about your garage door, feel free to give us a call! WD Door serves Ankeny, Des Moines, Ames, and the surrounding areas. If you need a new residential or commercial garage door installed or an existing one repaired, ask us for a quote!