As a homeowner, you are probably going to be worried about the maintenance costs of your garage doors. Even if this maintenance is not expensive, many people still procrastinate when they are having issues. The problem is that what might be an affordable issue now can quickly turn into a huge expense. Fortunately, there are a lot of different ways to make sure that your garage door is operating at peak efficiency.
Preventative maintenance for your garage door is based around the simple concept that it’s better to be safe than sorry. This post will walk you through some of the best ways to inspect your garage door and its system for faults.
Closely Observe your Door
One of the best ways to extend the life of your garage door is to treat it like a precious commodity. We do that by giving it the care and love it deserves. Closely inspect the door system and make sure that it’s operating at peak efficiency. If there are any weird movements or strange sounds, then you should dig deeper to see what the underlying issue is.
Tighten any Loose Parts
Inspect brackets and bolts to make sure that they are tight. They can loosen over time as the door opens and closes so you will need to tighten them at least once per year. If you notice your garage door vibrate, then chances are that there are loose bolts to blame. Don’t hesitate to check these bolts and tighten them accordingly. Loose bolts can lead to damage and other serious issues.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Friction can cause certain parts of your garage door to be damaged so you should make sure that you apply lubricant every six months. It only takes approximately 10 minutes and will extend the life of your garage door system by years! Lithium grease is the best type to use for the chain and screw on the opener. This is also a standard preventative maintenance step that professionals use when they do your regular check-up.
Inspect all Cables
Inspect the cables that are pulling your garage door open and closed. This should be a visual inspection. Never, under any circumstances, should you tinker with these cables. They are under a great amount of tension and they will cause serious injury! If these cables have broken strands that you can see, then you must call in a professional as soon as possible. If these cables were to break, they can lead to significant injury or expensive damage.
Clean Debris from Tracks
The garage track is a hotspot for debris and this junk can lead to other serious problems such as the door becoming unbalanced. The problem is that a lot of people neglect their tracks and it will eventually lead to costly damage and even accidents. You can use a toothbrush to clean the inside of the track. Never place your fingers inside.
If you own a garage, then the door is eventually going to have problems. The sooner you address these problems, the less costly they will be.
