The routine opening and closing of your garage door is so mundane, that the thought that it needs maintenance might never cross your mind — until that lack of maintenance shows up in nerve-grinding ways. Enduring sharp screeching noises during every entry and exit or getting locked out of your home or business is never enjoyable.
Following our garage door maintenance tips can prevent such unpleasant occurrences. Action Overhead Door Inc. is the preferred garage door company in Louisville, KY, because of our commitment to keeping client doors moving smoothly and silently. We listed our professional recommendations below to help you achieve that seamless operation for much longer.
Why Should You Apply These Garage Door Maintenance Tips?
Countless property owners forget about basic garage door upkeep, only to face the inevitable: the door stops working for seemingly no reason, makes noises that resemble horror film sound effects, or becomes malformed beyond simple repairs. But, believe it or not, even your residential door is subject to the automatic garage door requirements outlined by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
As a property owner, you have a responsibility for maintaining safe appliances and machinery in your home or business. Garage door maintenance makes it easy to do so. Plus, you can:
- Lengthen the door’s lifespan. Most things last longer when properly cared for, including your garage door.
- Schedule fewer repairs. When things go unmaintained, they wear out more quickly. It often starts with something small that snowballs into bigger troubles.
- Protect your energy bills. Garage doors keep outdoor elements out of the building. If yours becomes misaligned or loses its stripping, it’s letting that air seep into your home or business.
- Know when you need services. The more familiar you are with how your door works, the faster you’ll recognize serious issues. Prompt repairs play a starring role in protecting the door’s performance.
- Maintain a cleaner property. Basic garage door maintenance also just makes your property look cleaner with less dust and grime.
DIY door maintenance doesn’t replace professional services. However, it can help you go longer between visits while protecting your safety and ability to use the door. Now, let’s explore some garage door maintenance tips you can apply below.
1. Understand Your Garage Door
Familiarize yourself with how your garage door typically sounds and operates. You should hear a loud but uniform humming as the door opens or closes. You should see no jerky or sudden movements during the operations.
What To Do
Grab your owner’s manual or find it on the manufacturer’s website. That manual should contain everything you should know about your garage door. Remember to observe opening or closing cycles a few times to learn how they usually behave and compare them to future aberrations.
2. Perform Monthly Inspections
You can’t move forward with the other garage door maintenance tips unless you know what’s normal and what to improve. Schedule an inspection every month to look closely at the details. You can identify potential issues that might require professional assistance before they manifest in more damaging ways.
What To Do
Turn on the overhead light and grab a ladder. Carefully look over all visible components, including:
- The panels: Look for dents or punctures that might hinder its movement.
- The chain: Check for kinks and rusted links that might break.
- The pulleys: See if they have enough lubricant or sport noticeable damage.
- The control box: Are there any new lights blinking that might indicate a service need?
- The operational movements: Even small, barely noticeable jerks can indicate a misaligned track.
Remember, don’t touch damaged components. Just call your technician for a repair service.
3. Conduct Basic Safety Tests
Safety tests ensure everything goes swimmingly when you press a button that opens the door. Some tests are more complex than others. You’ll find a simple safety routine outlined below. What To Do
Most garage doors have photo sensors on either side of the door frame. They are close to the bottom. You should see a green light if they are aligned.
Initiate the closing process. Then, wave a broom or a similar item between the sensors. They should signal the door to open back up. If you don’t see green lights or the door keeps closing, contact a professional to fix the sensors.
4. Consistently Clean Everything
Smooth door operation depends on squeaky clean components. Dust and organic matter can become wedged within the chain, tracks, and pulley system. Fortunately, cleaning doesn’t take long.
What To Do
Use an air duster to blast fine particles and other material out of the tracks, chains, and pulleys. Remember to rinse the door panels every so often to limit the dust that escapes into the building.
5. Lubricate Loose Fittings
A solid preventive door care routine involves regular garage door lubrication. If you hear something squeak or grind, you can fix it with a little lubricant. Only do the following if you don’t have to touch or disassemble any parts.
What To Do
Listen closely to identify the sound’s location. Once you’ve found its origin, use a spray lubricant that you can easily apply without touching the mechanisms. This should eliminate the noise.
6. Protect the Sealant
Garage doors feature a rubber seal on the bottom of each panel. This seal keeps outdoor air from infiltrating the interior. It loses its shape and detaches over time.
What To Do
You should replace your garage door seal every three to five years. Keep an eye on it, and you’ll notice that it becomes frayed or doesn’t adhere to the door anymore. Contact your local garage door company to replace it.
7. Ask for Professional Assistance When Needed
These garage door maintenance tips will cover you most of the time. However, they don’t replace seasonal garage care from a professional. An annual garage door service will keep additional issues that you didn’t notice at bay.
Action Overhead Door Inc. Can Help
Want to learn what to keep an eye on? Need other garage door maintenance tips?Seek garage door service from Action Overhead Door Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky. Call 502-955-7725 to schedule a tune-up.
