Keep Your Garage Door in Better Shape with These Preventative Maintenance Tips [infographic]

Your garage door is one of the largest moving parts in your entire home, so taking proper care to maintain its operation and functionality is a necessity. As a homeowner, we recommend taking the following steps to keep your garage door in great shape, so it continues to operate effectively and safely:

•   Observe – One of the best things you can do to maintain your garage door is to look and listen for issues. If something doesn’t sound or look right, it’s a good idea to give us a call.

•   Tighten up the hardware – Most residential garage doors go up and down at least 1,000 times annually. This constant movement and vibration can loosen up hardware, so examine and tighten the roller brackets regularly.

•   Test the balance – If your garage door isn’t balanced properly, it will have to work harder to open and close. Test the balance by disconnecting the opener and moving the door about halfway up. If it doesn’t stay in place, you need to re-balance your door.

•   Replace the weather stripping – If the rubber seal that extends across the bottom of your garage door is cracked or brittle, it’s best to replace it.

•   Keep an eye on the rollers—You should plan on inspecting your garage door rollers two times a year and replacing them every seven years or so.

•   Check the cables – Never mess with your garage door’s cables on your own, but watch for broken strands that indicate you need to call a professional.

•   Lubricate moving parts—If you can keep your garage parts moving, you can add years of smooth operation to your system. Use a spray lubricant to coat the overhead springs and white lithium grease on your garage door opener’s main screw.

•   Keep the tracks clear—The tracks on either side of the door should be kept free from debris. Keep in mind that if you need to make major adjustments to the tracks, this should be done by a professional.

•   Examine the door—Check the garage door itself for chipping, peeling paint, warping, and water damage. If you have a steel door, you may want to sand, prime, and paint rust spots as they develop.