There are things you just don’t bother to think about until they break. One of those things is your garage door. Be honest, how many times have you thought about doing garage door maintenance?
Probably not a lot. And that’s ok—because we’ve done the thinking for you.
If you’re interested in learning some garage door maintenance tips, give this article a read. We’ve put together 5 mistakes to avoid that will hopefully save you from having to come home to a broken garage door.
Mistake 1: Allowing Tracks and Rollers to Get Dirty
The tracks and rollers that allow your garage door to slide up and down don’t function very well when they’re full of dirt and debris. If your garage door opens and closes a lot slower than when it was new, or it gets stuck on one side, it’s time to clean the tracks and rollers.
Mistake 2: Allowing Rust to Form on Springs
If springs are not lubricated regularly then rust will inevitably accumulate. This can be bad as rusty springs mean they’re liable to snap with the right amount of tension or pressure. If the springs snap then your door won’t open.
Mistake 3: Not Lubricating Moving Parts
Just like your garage door springs, moving parts within your garage door system need lubrication to function properly. Without lubrication moving parts create friction and wear down over time.
A fine way to tell if your garage door parts need lubrication is if you hear squeaking or grinding noises when it’s in use. White lithium grease or silicone-based lubricants are ideal for penetrating garage door moving parts and don’t collect dirt like other oils.
Mistake 4: Forgetting to Test Garage Door & Sensors
Regularly testing your garage door and its sensor entails open and closing it while paying close attention to all its working parts. Can you hear rattling, squeaking, or grinding?
Do your garage door sensors open and close the garage door fast enough to avoid injury or property damage? Sensors sometimes need cleaning as well as adjusting in order to work effectively.
Mistake 5: Installing the Garage Door Yourself
We all want to be handy, but sometimes jobs are best left to a seasoned professional. The main problem DIY’ers run into when trying to install a garage door comes when it’s time to install the springs.
Springs in garage door systems have safety cables to prevent them from coming loose and causing injuries. However, when replacing or installing new springs in a garage door, those safety cables have to be removed first. This makes installing garage door springs a somewhat dangerous job if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Remember These Garage Door Maintenance Tips
When it comes to garage doors, a little bit of maintenance can go a long way. Keeping moving parts lubricated, rollers and tracks clean, as well as regular test runs can keep your garage door from malfunctioning when you least expect it.
Of course, our biggest garage door maintenance tip of the day is to hire a trusted professional for your new garage door installation or spring replacements. In fact, if you’re having garage door problems or thinking about buying a new garage door entirely, give us a call to find out how we can help!
