Many homeowners use their garage doors frequently, usually multiple times a day. Like many things, garage doors gradually wear with usage. Also, since garage doors are mechanical equipment that rely on a system of components to function, the chances of wear and damage to different parts are high.
Still, a high-quality garage door is one of the sturdiest objects you can own. With proper maintenance, a garage door can last 15 to 30 years or longer. So, how do you approach maintenance to ensure a long service life? Learn more with our garage door maintenance guide.
Is your garage door worth the effort for upkeep? Yes. Sticking to a garage door preventive maintenance schedule keeps the door in proper working condition and offers several benefits, such as:
How often you should conduct garage door maintenance depends on usage. If you frequently use your garage door, perhaps multiple times a day, a monthly inspection of the door and its components is recommended.
Regarding garage door maintenance, you can handle some tasks, but most are best left to professionals. DIY maintenance involves minor fixes and general upkeep measures that contribute to preventive maintenance. Here is a checklist of things you can do:
General inspection is a big part of routine maintenance, allowing you to spot issues you may otherwise miss. Inspect the door for signs of damage or wear, which can be apparent even if you’re not an expert. Obvious signs like unusual sounds, shakiness during operation or frayed cables indicate a major problem on the way.
Visually inspect the door when in the down position for:
If you notice anything unusual, like the door lagging or struggling to open, you’re dealing with an issue that requires technician analysis. You can proceed with your general maintenance practices if nothing stands out during visual inspection.
Springs are responsible for garage door operation. An issue with the tension in the springs could leave the door unbalanced, leading to problems like overstraining the garage door opener. Testing the door’s balance as part of your routine upkeep gives you insight into the condition of the springs. Test the garage door’s balance with these steps:
If the door does not stay in place, contact Stouffville Garage Doors to request a service appointment.
Modern garage doors come with an advanced safety feature that uses photo-eye and auto-reverse technologies to detect obstructions on the door’s path. Photo-eye sensors are small devices located at the bottom of either side of your garage door. They detect objects in the door’s path using an infrared beam. If your door encounters an object while closing, the auto-reverse feature immediately opens the door, preventing injuries.
You can test your garage door’s automatic reversal features by blocking the photo-eye sensor. Break the sensor’s beam while the door is closing to see if it activates a reversal. If it doesn’t, the sensors may be blocked, dirty, misaligned or damaged. If clearing the path or cleaning them doesn’t work, you may have an issue that calls for garage door opener repairs.
You want to regularly test your garage door safety features to keep your loved ones safe and protect your door from damage.
Your garage door rollers run on tracks, which tend to collect dust and debris. Every time you lift the door, you expose the tracks to the elements, from winds and rain to storms and snow. Regular cleaning of the tracks allows the door to run smoothly and prevents malfunctions. You can safely clean your garage door tracks using a vacuum cleaner or a brush. Brush and wipe down the tracks to remove dirt and debris.
It’s important to lubricate garage door moving parts at least twice a year to maintain smooth operation and slow down wear and tear. Using a high-quality and reliable garage door lubricant, such as those available at Stouffville Garage Doors, offers high performance and noise reduction.
Here are key areas to lubricate:
Maintain regular lubrication to prevent costly repairs caused by corrosion and friction. With the appropriate lubricant, you can ensure efficient operation and extend the life of your garage door.
Doors should be cleaned and waxed at least twice a year. However, in regions with harsh winters and high road salt exposure, it is recommended to clean and wax them four or more times a year. If salt or other corrosive substances become visible on the door, it is essential to clean it promptly to prevent rust and other potential issues.
Garage doors are complex systems that require servicing at least once a year to resolve bigger issues and restore optimal performance. While you can handle minor fixes to reduce wear and identify problems, you can’t safely perform major fixes like repairs and replacing worn parts unless you’re a qualified garage door technician.
Serious concerns, such as broken springs or damage to the cables, need expert attention because they carry a significant risk of injury. Let professionals tackle the following maintenance tasks because they are a safety hazard and critical to the door’s structural integrity:
The best preventive maintenance for garage doors combines simple upkeep strategies with professional servicing. Proper maintenance makes it effortless to prevent serious damage and accelerated wear and tear, resulting in years of smooth performance and a long service life. Work with a reliable service provider to ensure quality, transparency and professionalism.
At Stouffville Garage Doors, we understand the frustration and inconvenience related to garage doors. We have served Stouffville and surrounding areas since 1988, completing over 40,000 garage door installations and providing excellent services. Request a service today and let our qualified technicians handle the rest!
