A garage door is an important part of your home’s curb appeal, and maintaining that appeal means avoiding things that hurt your garage door.
Your garage door is a daily convenience and you want it in great condition so it will work for a long, long time. Knowing what things can hurt your garage door can help you avoid malfunctions. There are four big things that should be looked at every six months or so to maintain the integrity and continued use of your garage. Read on to learn all about the things that hurt your garage door.
Neglecting Inspection & Maintenance
You should for sure have your garage door looked at by a professional every couple of years. There are a lot of things that can go wrong, especially if you open and close it every day. It could come off the track, the hinges holding the door together could break, and the pieces can break. Depending on how frequently you open and close your garage door, you should have it looked at 2 times each year.
Replacing Worn Parts
Your garage door will start to shows signs of wear when it is close to dying on you. Some of those signs are shaking or rattling when opening or closing and it will start to freeze half way up or not go up at all. There are a number of things that can cause parts to stop working or wear out, most commonly the springs, which should be replaced every couple of years.
Leaving Dents in the Door
Garage door dents reduce your home’s curb appeal and they can cause damage to your door and the mechanisms that make it operate more efficiently. A dent can cause metal corrosion or rust on your garage door and can cause moisture damage. Dents can cause your door to have to work harder, putting strain on the springs and track, because of the messed up shape.
You can prevent dents by putting lights along your driveway or on either side of your garage door so you can see where to stop when backing in. Remind children to play away from the garage to avoid them accidentally hitting or kicking toys into the door.
A Dirty Track
The track to your garage door is there to help it stay aligned when it is going up and down. When dirt gets in the track, it can become a big problem.
You can keep the track clean with an outdoor vacuum to gently remove all the dirt and debris that has built up. Also you should keep the track well-lubricated so your garage door can go up and down with ease.
Make sure that you or children do not put anything in its path while it is moving. Also it is very dangerous to try and walk under it while it is operating. Garage door safety is very important to having a working door that will last for many years.
In Conclusion
Your garage door will operate for a very long time if you keep it well cleaned and well maintained. The routine maintenance will keep it in working condition for years to come and can lengthen its lifespan.
