A garage door is a significant investment, and to make this investment fulfill it’s potential, it needs maintenance. Homeowners can do most basic maintenance themselves, and call in the professionals on bigger projects.
This week, we explain some easy steps homeowners can take to maintenance their garage door.
Set A Schedule
Homeowners should maintenance their garage doors about once a month. Make it into a habit that you know is on your calendar. If your door is having issues, try running through your maintenance routine before you call in help. As garage door technology increases, the sensitivity increases too. Follow the once a month routine unless you feel that your door needs more.
Do A Visual Check
Begin your routine by giving your garage door a quick visual once over. Make sure that there are no dents, scrapes, or patches of rust. If there are, try and get those issues sorted out before you continue on.
To remove rust from a garage door, use a rag soaked in white vinegar. The vinegar dissolves the rust and you can finish the spot off using steel wool. Your door may need a bit of a paint touch up afterward.
Watch The Movement
Open and close your door a few times to see how it moves. Are there any point that it sticks slightly? Does it lurch forward as it closes? Remember that the track it moves on is still part of the garage door, and that may need help to. Leaves, pollen, and pine needles can all get caught in the track and cause issues.
Also check the wheels that your garage door moves on. It is fairly easy to get something wrapped around the wheel while it moves. Substances like pine sap, with its sticky residue can also cause issues.
Check The Torsion Spring
Torsion springs have a difficult task, and may need to be replaced, depending on how heavily you use your garage door. It is fairly easy to check whether this is the case or not.
Close your garage door, make sure it is all the way down. Pull the emergency cord for your door. Then, lift the door up about halfway. If the door holds, your torsion springs are fine. However, if the door slides shut, the spring needs replacement.
The quicker the door slides shut, the more worn out the spring is. If it slides shut slowly, you can afford to wait a little. On the other hand, if it slams shut, it is definitely time to replace it.
Know Your Limits
While homeowners can definitely maintenance their own garage doors, some problems need to be looked at by a professional. A torsion spring, for example, it something that a professional repair company can take care of. However, homeowners don’t need them to come clean the door.
If you see any problems briefly mentioned here that you cannot find the solution for, do not be afraid to call your local garage door company. Ask questions, and tell them what is going on. They will be able to provide a definite answer as to whether you can take care of it, or if they should step in to help.
