Garage doors and garage door openers can be pricey. The good news is, they tend to last a long time. That is, they do as long as you buy quality brands, and you maintain them accordingly. Unfortunately, garage door maintenance isn’t something a lot of homeowners think of, which results in a number of problems.

If you’re looking to get the most out of your garage doors and garage door openers, it’s critical that you take proper care of them. We’ve put together a few things every homeowner should be doing with their garage door and garage door opener.

But first…

Know When to Call a Professional

Broken garage doors can be very dangerous. After all, they typically weigh hundreds of pounds. Additionally, garage door springs carry a lot of tension in them. If they break, that tension is released, and if anyone is standing near it, they can suffer serious injury.

Though it’s good to inspect your garage door and even perform minor tasks in regards to it and the garage door opener, you shouldn’t try to do too much by yourself. If you have any uncertainty of what’s wrong or whether something is safe, call a professional. It’s a much better alternative to suffering a serious injury and/or breaking your garage door further.

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If your garage door and garage door opener are currently working as they should be, go ahead and move on to the rest of the list.

Pay Attention

Often, garage doors and openers give notable warning signs before they truly malfunction. When you open and close your garage door, make sure you’re paying attention to how smoothly it moves and what it sounds like. If it’s jerking or making an unusual noise, you may want to take a closer look.

If you don’t see any visible issues, but the door or opener continues to perform improperly, go ahead and contact a professional.

Add Some Lubrication

Both the garage door and the garage door opener rely on lubricants to run smoothly. Every three months or so, it’s a good idea to apply some additional lubrication. Simply take a can of WD-40 or another lubricant product and spray the hinges, rollers, tracks, and garage door opener chain.

Clean the Tracks and Photo-Eyes

Garages have a tendency to gather dust, cobwebs, leaves, and other debris. Left unchecked, these can start to affect garage door performance. Every month, it’s a good idea to brush off your garage door tracks and wipe your photo eye sensors clean. While you’re at it, you might as well sweep out the rest of your garage as well.

Tighten Screws and Bolts

Garage doors tend to vibrate as they open and close. Overtime, this can shake loose the bolts and screws that hold them together. With your garage door closed, go around and check the various blots and screws that are attached to the garage door.

Using a wrench or a screwdriver, go ahead and tighten them.

Check the Balance

This step is a bit more technical, but it’s important. First, switch your garage door to manual mode. Then slowly lower or open it to the halfway point. Let go. If the door is balanced, it should remain in this position. If it starts to fall or rise, then the springs need to have their tension adjusted.

This is best left to a professional.