Are you aware that a garage door can last as long as 30 years if you care for it well enough? While garage doors are making technological advances at a rapid rate, which may incentivize you to replace your door sooner, proper maintenance ensures you don’t have to replace any parts before you’re ready. Here are some simple garage door maintenance suggestions that will keep your door in great shape for many years to come.
Lubricate the Moving Parts
One of the simplest ways to increase the life expectancy of your garage door is to lubricate all of its moving parts. Take around ten minutes to spray lubricant on the opener’s chain or drive screw. Also, lubricate the tracks, hinges, and rollers. If you don’t know which lubricant is best, you can ask a garage door maintenance professional.
Tighten Your Hardware
Any time your garage door opens and closes, it causes vibrations, which will loosen the hardware over time. Considering that many people use their garage doors around one thousand times every year, it’s to be expected that tightening hardware should be on your garage door maintenance checklist.
Test the Door’s Balance
Whenever the garage door is imbalanced, it causes unnecessary strain on the opener that shortens its life expectancy. That’s why part of garage door maintenance should be to check your door’s balance. To do this, disconnect your door from the opener. Then, pull the manual release cord manually. Stop whenever the door is roughly halfway up. A properly balanced door should stop by itself.
Monitor Your Rollers
Regardless of what material your rollers are made from, it’s still important to check them for damage. You should do this at least two times per year. Garage door rollers usually last around seven years, but that time could go down the more frequently you use your door. You should replace your rollers immediately if you see any wear-and-tear, cracks, or chips.
Replace Your Weatherstripping
Keep an eye on your weatherstripping. If it starts decaying, your garage door will be susceptible to the elements. Rain and snow can damage your garage over time. That’s why part of garage door maintenance should include replacing your weatherstripping when you see it’s getting damaged. You should notice puddles around your garage, drafts that come underneath your door, or potential rusting around your door if your weatherstripping has to be replaced. Just be sure you get in contact with a garage door professional to make sure the weatherstripping gets fitted properly.
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.