A Handy Garage Door Preventative Maintenance Checklist
Your garage door is an investment, so keeping it in tip-top shape with preventative maintenance is vital. Regularly inspecting your system can extend its life span and keep little issues from becoming costly headaches down the road.
Not sure where to start? Here are our top garage door preventative maintenance tips for residential and commercial properties.
1. Lubricate, Lubricate, Lubricate
Your garage door comprises dozens of moving parts that work together to function every day. Lubrication takes less than 10 minutes and helps prevent rust and wear. Lubricate all your garage door’s moving parts, including:
- Cables
- Springs
- Steel rollers
- Hinges
- Tracks
- Any surface that turns or slides
2. Clean Your Garage Door
Dirt, dust, rust and debris can easily clog a garage door’s mechanisms. Cleaning your garage door and its track twice a year can do wonders for your system’s life span. You can clean most components with a mixture of mild household detergent and water.
3. Replace the Weatherstripping
The rubber weather seal at the bottom of a garage door can become brittle or cracked, exposing your garage to the elements. Keep your home or business safe and energy efficient by checking the weatherstripping each season. You can cut a new seal to size as a replacement when needed.
4. Examine Your Garage Door Parts
Each mechanical component of your garage door plays an essential role in the system’s overall functionality. Consider inspecting the following parts at least twice a year:
- Hinges: Are the hinges loose or bent?
- Track: Is the track bent? Are there any loose or missing bolts and screws?
- Cables: Do you see any frayed or broken cable strands?
- Springs: Do the springs look stretched, misshapen or rusty? Do they click or whirr when in use?
- Rollers: Do the rollers appear worn, chipped or cracked?
- Drive chain or belt: Does the drive chain or belt groan or make a slapping sound when operating? Do you notice any slack?
While you may be able to complete simple repairs like tightening loose nuts and bolts, a qualified technician with the proper tools and experience should perform most preventative maintenance tasks for garage doors.
5. Perform Safety Tests
A faulty garage door can lead to serious injury. Some routine tests you can perform to ensure the system’s essential safety features are operational include:
- Garage door balance: Place the garage door in manual operation mode by disconnecting it from the opener. Lift it halfway and release. If the door slips down, the balance may be off.
- Mechanical auto-reverse: Test this obstacle detection system by placing a brick or other inanimate object in the center of the door opening. Then, try to close the garage door. The sensor should detect the obstacle and cause the door to reverse direction.
- Photo eye sensor: Test this system by waving a long object like a broom between the two photo eye sensors on either side of the garage door while it’s closing. This motion should cause the door to reverse direction.
6. Schedule Preventative Maintenance From Continental Door
In addition to performing preventative measures you can do on your own, it’s important to work with a highly skilled and knowledgeable service team. Continental Door offers preventative maintenance services for residential and commercial garage doors in the greater Spokane area.
Contact our team today to learn more about our preventative maintenance service plans.
6 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Garage Door
Knowing when to replace garage doors is important. You may want to put this task off for as long as possible to save money, but replacing your garage door helps improve your business’s or home’s safety, appearance and functionality. Six common signs indicating it may be time to replace your garage door include:
1. The Age of Your Garage Door
Garage doors and their mechanical parts have an average life span of about 15 to 30 years. However, many factors can prematurely age your garage door system, including its usage cycle, which is how often you open and close your door every day.
If your garage door is 20 or more years old and is used daily, you may want to start looking at replacement garage doors. An upgraded system will greatly improve your property’s value.
2. Decreased Function
From bent tracks to broken springs, many issues can result in a nonfunctional garage door. If your system won’t open or close, consult professionals. They may suggest a simple repair or replacement part. Or, it may be more cost-effective to replace your entire garage door setup.
3. Increased Noises
A garage door should not make excessive grinding, squealing, grating or banging sounds. Increased noise may indicate significant issues that require immediate attention. If your system makes audible sounds, it could need a replacement part or you may want to consider upgrading your garage door.
4. Garage Door Speed
When you click your opener, your garage door should respond without hesitation. If it moves at a glacial pace, there’s likely an issue. Another cause for concern is when your garage door closes too quickly or unexpectedly. This can pose a danger to you and your loved ones, as these heavy doors can hurt someone or damage your property.
5. Outdated Style and Appearance
Has it been a decade or two since you updated your garage door? Chances are it’s starting to look a little worse for wear. Your garage door contributes to the overall look and feel of your property. Upgrading your system can improve your property’s curb appeal and breathe fresh life into your business’s or home’s appearance.
6. Advances in Garage Door Technology
Each new year brings advances in garage door technology that can add to your home’s security, functionality and even energy efficiency. You may notice that your neighbors and friends are enjoying garage doors with outstanding capabilities you never realized were possible. If so, it’s time to explore newer models to enhance your home.
Consult the Experts at Continental Door to Upgrade Your Garage Door
If your garage door needs replacing, then it’s time to contact the experts at Continental Door. We serve homes and businesses throughout the greater Spokane area with an outstanding selection of beautiful garage doors. Our team can expertly install an option that meets the unique needs of your property.
When it’s time to replace your garage doors, contact Continental Door to request your free estimate and enjoy high-quality service.
