Garage doors are something many of us take for granted. We use them almost every day and just expect them to continue to work. However, if you don’t take care of them, your garage door will break down much sooner than you might expect. This can cause you lots of problems, especially if the garage door in question is one that a business uses.
Businesses that deal with cars have garage doors that go up and down multiple times throughout the day. This causes lots of wear and tear. Whether the garage door is attached to your home or business, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid an early breakdown. Here’s our list of maintenance tips you should follow to keep your garage door in working condition.
Keep a Close Eye on Your Garage Door
Since most people just assume that a garage door will work every time, they tend not to pay close attention to it. That means when something starts going wrong, they won’t notice it. The best way to catch problems early on is to know how the door is supposed to function. That way, if it starts jittering or moves slower than usual, you’ll know it’s time to figure out what’s wrong with it before it fully breaks down.
Wash the Garage Door Regularly
Of course, a big part of garage door maintenance that everyone should know is that you must wash your door regularly. Businesses tend to be a little bit better about this since a filthy door can drive away people, but anyone can get lazy with this process.
An important thing to realize, though, is cleaning your garage door system does more than simply make the door look good. Removing dirt and grime will keep your door running for longer. Filth can build up quickly over time, especially in the rack the wheels run through, which will cause blockages in the system and eventually rust out your parts. Regular cleanings will help prevent this.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Once everything is clean, it’s time to relubricate the system’s moving parts. Washing a surface isn’t enough to ensure that it works properly. Metal doesn’t rub up against other pieces of metal very well. It needs a lubricant to ensure that there’s no grinding that deteriorates the pieces of the garage door over time.
Be sure not to use WD-40 as your lubricant for this process. It doesn’t work as well as a silicone spray, so you’ll want to use that instead. As an added bonus, this lubricant also helps prevent rust, helping your garage door last even longer.
Clean Around the Garage Door
While you’re busy cleaning the garage door, it’s not a bad idea to clean around it as well. Not only can stray objects get in the way of the moving door and potentially break it, but they can also cause parts of the garage door system to get dirtier than they normally would. It’s much easier for debris to get all over the rails of the door if some dirty boxes are sitting nearby.
Once all the objects are clear, you should wash down the walls and floors near the garage door as well. These areas can get just as dirty with cobwebs and general grime.
Check the Weather Seal
One part of the garage that people tend to overlook is the weather seal. This is the thin piece of rubber that helps seal the door when it’s closed. Obviously, its main purpose is to keep the hot or cold air from slipping through the cracks, but it also helps keep dust and debris out. If this seal is missing or broken, the inside of your garage door will get dirty much quicker.
Individually Examine Garage Door Parts
Something that you should get into the habit of doing every so often is performing a routine examination of the various parts of the garage door. Even if you don’t notice your garage door acting up, that doesn’t mean everything is okay. Regular checks of these parts can protect the longevity of your door.
You should first start with the cables. These do much of the heavy lifting for the garage door, so they experience a lot of wear and tear. This will typically come in the form of frayed sections of the cables, but there could also be broken strands. Since these cables aren’t always visible, you might need to run your fingers across them, but be careful when doing so. If you notice these issues, you’ll need to replace your cables immediately.
Also, be sure to check out the springs. These are what provide the tension necessary to move the garage door. Even though they typically last for up to 10,000 cycles, extreme temperatures and improper maintenance can cause them to fail sooner. If you notice any kinks or cracks in the springs, it’s time to replace them before they fully break.
Tighten Everything Up
While you’re inspecting your garage door’s parts, it’s a good practice to tighten up all the nuts and bolts you come across. These are typically on the hinges and pullies that help hold the garage door together. Vibrations from the door will loosen them over time, so checking them every once in a while is a good idea.
However, you should never touch any screws or bolts marked in red. Adjusting them could destroy your garage door if handled improperly. It’s best to leave those to a professional.
Run a Few Tests
Sometimes, garage door users will notice that something is wrong but can’t tell what it is. When that happens, there are a few tests you can run to locate the source of the issue. They’re pretty easy to do on your own without any additional equipment, but consulting a garage door professional isn’t a bad idea.
You can run these tests on the garage door balance, the photoelectric sensors, and the auto-reverse feature. One of these three should help you figure out what’s wrong with your door.
Know When To Get a New One
Ultimately, no matter how careful you are with your garage door, the day will come when it stops working altogether. When that happens, you’ll need to buy a new one to replace it with. Whether you need a commercial garage door or a residential one, Doors of Pontiac has exactly what you need to replace your old one.
