We are always focusing on making sure our kitchens, living rooms, and houses are clean and look their best, but one part of your home you might not think of is your garage.
The garage is a huge part of your home, and your garage door is crucial for accessing this space.
You can extend the life of your garage door with a few straightforward maintenance tasks and keep your home at its best.
Clean and Inspect the Door Regularly
A simple way to check your garage door is to conduct a visual inspection every few months. Look for rust, dents, or worn weather stripping around the door and frame, as well as anything that seems out of place or off.
This is also a great opportunity to clean both sides of the garage door, ensuring the inside and outside of your home remain neat and clean.
If you do find issues with components of your garage door, such as the door spring, then it is important to know what to do when a garage door spring breaks. While you may not have a manual for your garage door on hand, learning how the door’s parts operate and how they could fail empowers you to make repair calls at the right time.
Test Safety Features Monthly
Modern garage doors include important safety mechanisms that need regular testing. Place a small object, such as a block of wood, under the door and try closing it. The door should reverse when it makes contact with the object.
Also, test the photo-eye sensors by waving a broom handle between them while closing the door. The door should stop and reverse immediately. If either test fails, contact a professional for repairs.
Replace Weather Stripping When Needed
Weather stripping is the small rubber object at the bottom of your door. It protects your garage from moisture, pests, and temperature fluctuations that can make the space feel and look gross.
You should check this strip for cracks, tears, or brittleness to catch the issue early and prevent any other problems.
Replacement weather stripping is inexpensive and easy to install. All you have to do is slide out the old strip and insert the new one into the track. This small investment protects your garage contents and improves energy efficiency.
Balance Your Door Annually
An unbalanced garage door puts extra strain on the opener and can lead to premature wear. To test balance, disconnect the opener by pulling the release cord and manually lift the door halfway up.
A properly balanced door should stay in place. If it falls or rises, the springs need adjustment—a job best left to professionals due to the high tension involved.
Schedule Professional Maintenance When Needed
Even DIY care can’t prevent problems from arising for your garage door. That is why you should have a professional maintenance service come every 1-2 years to ensure it provides optimal performance.
Qualified technicians can adjust spring tension safely, replace worn rollers, and identify any potential problems early. While the service might cost around $100 to $200, it is worth it to extend your door’s lifespan.
These simple maintenance steps may take just a few hours annually, but they have the potential to expand your garage door’s lifespan.
Remember, when in doubt, call a professional to help check over the door. Your home is worth the investment and time to make your garage door function at its best for years to come.