Garage doors are essential components of many residential homes. You can shield your car from external conditions and store other valuables, like power tools.
Routine, proactive maintenance keeps your garage door in peak condition, preventing costly repairs and premature breakdowns. Learn how to preserve your garage door functionality and how Marvin’s Garage Doors can help.
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The Value of Garage Door Maintenance
If you take good care of your garage door, it will stay in top shape longer. Here’s why you should invest in garage door maintenance.
- Increased safety: Garage doors use sensors and switches to facilitate safe movement. However, these doors are heavy and can cause injuries if they function incorrectly. Regular maintenance lets you identify potential performance issues before they become more significant. You also prevent safety issues by keeping the door in its best condition.
- Decreased costs: Maintenance can also save you money in the long term by reducing the chance of sudden and comprehensive failures. You can catch minor repairs before they snowball into extensive, expensive problems. For instance, fixing a tiny part is much more affordable than an entire door replacement.
- Improved accessibility: Many people use the garage door as their primary entry and exit route. A broken or malfunctioning door will be massively inconvenient if you normally park in your garage. Maintenance helps you enjoy easy daily access.
5 Ways to Conduct Garage Door Maintenance
You can extend your garage door’s life span with these five essential tasks.
1. Clean Door Panels and Tracks
Cleaning is a critical part of maintenance. It improves your door’s appearance and prevents pollutants from accumulating on the tracks, panels and other components.
The tracks support the garage door’s weight and allow it to slide up and down. Opening the door exposes it to the outdoors, allowing dust and filth to build up. Excessive dirt or debris accumulation can limit the door’s movements — it could become stuck or move more slowly. Regular cleaning keeps the tracks clear and free of dirt. You can use a damp cloth or a brake cleaner to remove dirt. While you clean, make sure the tracks have the correct alignment and no signs of rust.
You should also regularly clean your garage door’s front panels. These parts withstand weather conditions like rain, snow and wind, which can lead to grime accumulation or faded colors. Your cleaning approach depends on the door’s material type. For instance, wooden doors might need different cleaners than vinyl doors. You should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when cleaning your door to protect the material. As you clean, note whether it needs repainting, restaining or other attention.
It’s best to contact garage door technicians to clean your tracks and panels. They can provide the most thorough cleaning without damaging the door.
2. Lubricate Rollers and Bearings
Lubricant helps your door move smoothly. You should grease the rollers, bearings, chain belt and other moving components a few times each year. Spray silicone or another approved product to the necessary area, then wipe off the excess. Look for signs of damage or rust that could cause more significant problems later. Professional technicians can recommend the best lubricant for your door and apply it correctly.
3. Test Door Balance
Another crucial maintenance step is to test the door’s balance. Your door must stay balanced — imbalances can result in injury or damage to vehicles and belongings. You can test its security once or twice yearly to ensure it stays in the correct alignment.
Follow these steps to test the balance:
- Switch the garage door to manual operation by disconnecting from the opener.
- Lift the door partway and release it, letting it suspend.
- A balanced door should remain in this position. Imbalances cause the door to slip or change position.
If you notice an imbalance, call a professional garage door technician to inspect and repair the unit. Balance tests can be hazardous to do on your own, especially if the door slips.
4. Inspect Safety Features and Hardware
You should also consistently inspect and test garage door safety features. The emergency release and movement sensors are crucial for safe use. You can pull the emergency release and view the door’s response to ensure it functions correctly. To test the sensors, place a large object underneath the open door, then activate the system to pull the door down. It should stop as soon as it detects the item. Contact a technician to inspect the sensor if your door fails to stop.
5. Follow the Garage Door Manual
You can also reference your garage door manual for further maintenance recommendations. Depending on your garage door type, it might require more or less action throughout the year. You can also consult with professional garage door services to determine the best cleaning and maintenance patterns for your door.
Garage Door Maintenance FAQs
Here are answers to other frequent questions about garage door upkeep.
1. How Often Should You Get Garage Door Maintenance?
You should perform maintenance at least once a year. However, you might need more frequent inspections if you rely heavily on your door. Professional technicians can recommend specific maintenance plans based on your typical usage.
2. How Long Do Garage Doors Last?
Garage doors can last for multiple years or decades. Every door has a different life span, depending on factors like these.
- Usage: The more you use your garage door, the sooner it will wear down.
- Maintenance frequency: Routine maintenance and inspections help your door last longer. If you ignore this need, the door might need a replacement sooner.
- Materials: Garage doors are available in many materials, from steel to vinyl. Each option has different maintenance needs, with some enduring longer than others.
- Weather conditions: Harsh weather conditions can wear down a garage more quickly.
3. When Should You Get a Garage Door Replacement?
You should contact professional replacement services for reasons like:
- Consistently poor performance
- Severe signs of damage
- Safety feature failure
Technicians can evaluate your door and help you decide whether a repair or replacement is better.
Schedule Maintenance With Marvin’s Garage Doors Today
Maintenance is essential for safe and effective garage door operation. Professional technicians have thorough training to ensure your door functions and looks its best.
Marvin’s Garage Doors offers comprehensive maintenance, repair and replacement services for both residential and commercial garage doors. Our expert technicians can identify and resolve performance problems, increasing the door’s safety and efficiency. We can service all components and provide the best recommendations for follow-up maintenance procedures.
Request a service appointment today to get started with Marvin’s Garage Doors.
