Your garage door is one of the largest moving parts in your home, likely opening and closing at least hundreds of times each year. The more something moves, the more likely it is for a piece to fall out of place or wear down over time. Luckily, regular maintenance for garage doors is simple and effective. Taking a few easy steps can help you prolong the life of your garage door and may prevent the need for repairs down the line.
Types of Door Material
Garage doors come in various styles and materials. You can have choices between modern garage doors with glass windows that let natural light in or more classic steel options. While each material offers its own look, it also requires its own type of maintenance.
Maintenance for Wood Garage Doors
Wooden garage doors are a classic choice that offers a warm, traditional look. They can be made from different types of wood, including cedar, redwood and mahogany. While they are aesthetically pleasing, they do require more maintenance than other materials.
- Regular cleaning: Clean the wooden door regularly with mild detergent and water to remove dirt and debris. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive tools, as these can damage the wood. Use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe the surface.
- Inspect for damage: Inspect the wooden garage door regularly for signs of wear and tear, such as cracks, warping, and rot. Address any issues as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
- Refinishing the door: Refinishing the wooden garage door as needed is crucial to protect it from moisture and prevent warping. Sand the door down to remove any old finish, then apply a new coat of sealer or paint. Choose a finish designed for exterior use that provides UV protection. Call in a service technician to ensure the job is done correctly.
- Seal the door: To protect the wooden garage door from moisture, it is important to seal it regularly. Apply a wood sealer to the door every few years to prevent water from penetrating the surface. This will also help to prevent warping and rot.
Maintenance for Steel Garage Doors
Classic steel garage doors are affordable, durable, and low maintenance. Newer products offer layered construction, which provides higher energy-efficient insulation. To maintain steel garage doors, inspect the door regularly for dents and scratches, which can lead to rust formation.
Maintenance for Aluminum Garage Doors
Aluminum garage doors come with a lot of advantages, including that the material is lightweight and durable. These doors are rust-resistant and require little maintenance outside of cleaning and a wipe-down.
The most important aspect is to do visual inspections. As aluminum is lightweight, it can be prone to dents if knocked with heavy objects or bumped into. Dents and bumps can cause problems with opening. If you hear any strange noises or it jitters, call a professional in to smooth out your door.
10 Garage Door Maintenance Tips
Lubrication, checking safety features and other regular maintenance tasks can protect your garage door and your family. While most repairs are best left to a professional, taking a look can help you know when to call a garage door technician.
It’s best to perform garage maintenance at least once a year. You can time it with other activities, such as washing your car, getting your lawnmower out of storage or other seasonal housework. Whenever you come in contact with your garage hardware, be sure to disconnect the door opener, so the garage door doesn’t move while you are working on it.
Here are some things to do during your annual garage door inspection:
1. Listen and Watch the Door in Motion
The first step of garage door maintenance is to operate your door and listen for any sounds. You may hear scraping, grinding or rattling. These sounds can tell you a specific part is worn out or needs lubrication. A well-maintained garage should be relatively quiet.
You’ll also want to look for any jerky movements. Examine both sides of the door to see if the springs, pulleys and lift cables are symmetrical. If anything seems out of place or you see irregular movement, it may be a sign that something is wrong.
While looking and listening are great first steps for your garage maintenance, they’re also easy to perform throughout the year whenever you operate your garage.
2. Clean and Check the Tracks
The tracks, located on either side of the garage door along the wall, should be perfectly straight. You can use a level to ensure that they are perpendicular to the floor. However, if you find anything out of place, call a garage door expert.
You can clean the tracks yourself by spraying brake or carburetor cleaner to remove dirt and debris. Do not use a lubricant on the tracks, as the slipperiness can dislodge the rollers. While you’re cleaning, look for any signs of rust.
3. Tighten the Hardware
The vibration that comes with regular movement can cause parts to become loose over time. You can examine and tighten rollers, bolts and hinges with a socket wrench.
4. Check the Rollers
The rollers, which attach the garage door to the track, need to be replaced every so often. Check each one and look for any that are worn, cracked or chipped. If multiple need to be replaced, it is probably time to call a professional to replace all the rollers.
5. Lubricate All Moving Parts
Regular lubrication with lithium grease keeps your garage door moving smoothly and reduces the stress placed on the parts of your garage. Rollers and hinges and the chain belt should be lubricated a few times per year. You can do this by spraying a silicone or white lithium lubricant on each hinge and roller and wiping off the excess. It’s essential to remove the extra grease because this oil can attract dirt.
However, do not lubricate nylon rollers. While metal rollers can do with a bit of grease, the chemicals in most lubricants may wear down the nylon.
If you have an extension-spring opener, you should also lubricate your garage’s pulleys. For a torsion-spring opener, lubricate the bearings. If you notice the torsion spring is rusty, you can wipe it down with some oil using a cloth.
You may also want to lubricate the garage door opener’s chain or screw. You won’t need to lube a belt-drive opener.
6. Replace Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping is installed around garage doors and windows to create a seal that prevents drafts and air leakage. The material can differ from product to product but is typically made from rubber, vinyl or foam. When the garage door closes, the weatherstripping should seal it to the sides and floor. The seal helps to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and can help reduce energy bills by preventing hot or cold air from escaping.
You can install weatherstripping yourself, but it is recommended to have a professional do it during your annual service. A professional installer can also guide selecting the correct type of weatherstripping for your garage door, ensuring optimal insulation and durability. In addition, many garage door manufacturers require weatherstripping be installed by a professional to maintain the door’s warranty.
7. Test the Counterweight
When your door is not balanced correctly, it will still go up and down, but the opener will be doing more of the heavy lifting. In this case, the opener may wear out sooner. While you should never attempt to fix anything related to the garage’s counterweight or spring system yourself, you can test to make sure it is working.
With your garage door closed, find the red release cord on your automatic garage door opener and release it. Then, manually lift the garage door and stop halfway up. The door should stay in place after you let go. If it drops back down, you should call a professional garage door technician.
8. Test the Safety Features
Your garage door has two features that cause the door to reverse directions if something gets in the way. One is a pressure sensor, and the other is a photoelectric system with an eye sensor on both sides of the door.
To test the pressure sensor, place a piece of wood or brick underneath your open garage door and activate the opener. The door should reverse directions when it hits the object. To test the photoelectric system, operate your garage door and pass a broom head underneath the door. When the broom breaks the laser path between the two sides of the door, the door should go back up.
If your garage door is particularly old, it may not have any safety mechanisms in place. Since most municipal codes require them, it’s time to start shopping for a new garage door.
9. Keep Up to Date with Building Code Requirements
Local and state governments and international organizations set The building codes for garage doors in the United States. North Carolina has their own organization, which adopts the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) as the basis for the state’s building codes.
It is important to note that building codes are updated regularly to reflect changes in technology, safety standards and other factors. Your garage door may have met code requirements when installed, but it may no longer comply after a few years.
To ensure your garage door is up to code, work with a licensed and experienced local professional familiar with local building codes in your state or county. They can advise you on any necessary upgrades or modifications to bring your garage door into compliance with current regulations.
Ask About Our Preventative Maintenance Programs
Proper maintenance of your garage door is vital to the health of your garage door. Taking a few precautions can extend the life of your door for years to come. If you want an expert to handle your yearly maintenance, ask us about our preventative maintenance program. For one affordable price, an experienced technician will replace all the rollers for one garage door, lubricate all moving parts, test and adjust springs and check your garage door opener.
With a preventative maintenance program from Marvin’s Garage Doors, our expert service providers will ensure your residential or commercial garage door is in working order and let you know if you need a repair.
Contact us today to learn more.