A properly installed garage door should last for years. However, there are some maintenance tasks. Some of them are perfectly fine to do yourself, where others are going to require you to call in a garage door tech. Garage door repair can get tricky. By knowing what you can DIY and what you should leave to a pro, you can maximize the value from your garage door. Here is everything you need to know about garage door repair and whether you should call in a professional or not.
Do: Tighten Hardware
One of the easier garage door repairs you can do yourself is tightening up the hardware. Anything like bolts, nuts, and hinges are going to loosen over time due to vibrations put out by the door, but thankfully it’s an easy fix and you can tighten them all yourself.
Don’t: Replace Springs
Door springs are what keep your door running, able to raise and lower when needed. You might be curious about this function and think you can do it yourself, but don’t—those springs are under extreme tension. Once released, it can cause property damage or even harm you. While springs can break down due to excess weight or corrosion, a pro should be called in.
Do: Replace Weather Stripping
If you notice your garage floor is getting wet near the weather stripping or if you’re suddenly able to see lights beneath the door, you may need to replace your weather stripping entirely. It’s not too tough a task and will help keep your garage at the right temperatures year-round as well.
Don’t: Fix Electric Openers
Electric garage door openers vary in their complexities, but overall, they’re more complicated than you may think. If a malfunction took place while you were working on it, you could injure yourself. These kinds of things are unfortunately very unpredictable, so bring in a professional to handle this risky maintenance task.
Do: Track Lubrication
About every six months, you can lubricate the moving parts of your garage door like the door’s track. This helps extend its lifespan and requires you to use silicone spray or white lithium grease.
Don’t: Secure Detached Doors
We see detached garage doors for all kinds of reasons. Bad weather or undue stress can even be the culprit. IF it happens to you, you may think you’re able to lift the rollers back into the track—but this requires a lot of strength all at once and can be dangerous. If you don’t fix the underlying issue, it could also happen again. Instead, leave this garage door repair to us.
Let First Choice Garage Doors Find The Right Door For You
Since 2004, First Choice Garage Doors has been providing quality service in Maryland, Delaware, Northern Virginia, and Pennsylvania. We offer services like garage door installation and replacement, as well as maintenance and repair. We specialize in the repair and maintenance of garage doors and their accessories. Here at First Choice Garage Doors, we work with top manufacturers in the industry, including Amar Entrematic, Clopay, Wayne Dalton, and Artisan.