Your garage door is one of the biggest moving and operating pieces of your home. It is also one of the most used parts of your home. Your garage door is likely opened and closed multiple times a day, every single day.

The garage door is something that we often take for granted. As a homeowner, you may not even realize how much you use it and need it until it doesn’t work. The good news is, good garage door maintenance can help you prevent yourself from being in this predicament.

A properly installed, high-quality door, really won’t need a ton of maintenance. Follow these few easy tips to extend its life and ensure your garage door in Ohio works properly for years to come.

Observation

The most important preventive step you can take is to observe your garage door in action every time you use it. Is it moving at a normal speed? Is it jerky? Are there any questionable noises? Does it look level or symmetrical?

Tighten Hardware

The frequent use of a garage door can cause the hardware to loosen over time. Examine and tighten all roller brackets and bolts with a socket wrench.

Test The Balance

If your garage door is not properly balanced, the garage door opener will have to work harder, and it won’t last as long.

To test the balance, you can disconnect the opener (usually by pulling on the red cord), then manually move the door half way up. If the counterweight system is balanced, the door will stay in place. If it is off balance it will fall back down. This could be an issue with your springs, in which case garage door spring adjustment is best left to the professionals.

Replace Weather-stripping

Weather-stripping is the rubber seal along the bottom of your door. When this becomes cracked or damaged it is important to replace it right away in order to protect your garage and home from outside elements.

Lubricate Moving Parts

Keeping your garage door parts greased up will add years of seamless operation to your system – and it takes just 10 minutes a year! Use white lithium grease on the opener’s chain or screw, and a spray lubricant, available from your garage door specialist, to coat the overhead springs.

Test Safety Features

Most garage doors have two safety mechanisms, mechanical and photo eye. To test the mechanical safety of your garage door, place a small object on the ground below the photo eye (a piece of wood or brick) When the garage door touches that object it should reverse direction and go back up. To test the photo eye safety system, close the door and wave your leg or an object in front of the sensors, the door should reverse.

A very old garage door opener ,ay lack these safety features and it may be a good sign it’s time to replace.

Clear Tracks

Make sure the tracks on either side of the door are free from debris and, if you are so inclined, you can use a level to check the plumb. Any major adjustments to tracks must be done by a professional garage door technician.

Clean Your Garage Door

Don’t forget to examine the door itself. Wood doors will need to be checked for water damage and warp, as well as chipped and peeling paint. Steel doors may have rust spots that need to be sanded, primed and painted. Wash your garage door regularly with a mild all-purpose cleaner at the same time you do your car.

Remember, your garage door makes up about one-third of the exterior of your house, so keep it fresh and clean.

Need Professional Help?

These tips can be done by homeowners on their own, however, if you are hesitant to perform any on your own or find any issues throughout your maintenance routine you will want to bring in professionals. Our team of garage door experts, at Springfield Overhead Door, are standing by to help with any of your garage door repair needs.