Your garage door is most likely the largest door in your home. We live in a blazing fast world, with high expectation of consistency. Expecting our home utilities to always be churning and making our home comfy. The garage door is no different. Home owners and tenants use their garage door several times a day. In fact, many garage doors are used as the primary door to enter a home or commercial space. Considering all of this, it is important to keep up with regular maintenance and stay ahead of major catastrophes and expenses.
- Visually Inspect- Cables, hinges, rollers, bottom fixtures, top fixtures, drums springs, end bearings, center bearings, tubes, couplers, panels, seals & attachments. Grab a flash light and go through each of these items and visual inspect them. Ensure there are no cracks, breaks or excessive corrosion. In order for your door to work to its optimum performance safely, the door needs to roll smoothly. A small issue such as one broken hinge or a hair line fracture in a panel can turn into a crash door type of situation quickly.
- Lubricate Metal on Metal Parts- Lubricate metal on metal parts on your garage door. I am not suggesting putting between each panel. Focus on hinges, bearings & springs. You shouldn’t need to lubricate your internally sealed bearing rollers or tracks. Just hinges, bearings & springs. Pick up a silicone based lubricant at your local supply store such as Home Depot, Lowes, Fergusons or Menards and gently apply lubricant. Less is more is a good rule of thumb. Consider doing this 3-4 times per year. This small task can take your existing garage door a long way. Here is a basic lube that I recommend. No kick backs or affiliation. https://www.lowes.com/pd/3-IN-ONE-11-oz-Garage-Door-Lube/3348342
- Tighten Loose Bolts- I want to make myself perfectly clear. Never mess with nuts or bolts if you are not confident. If you find a loose bolt on a spring, cable, bottom or top fixture drum, make sure you only tighten. If there is a question about your skill in this area, you should consult a professional. There is a ton of built up tension in your door. If it is a simple intermediate panel bolt or nut then just tighten it up. NEVER LOOSEN!
- Clean Landing Area and Sides- We have all been guilty of placing items below or around the rolling area of the garage door. Despite a safety sensor at the bottom of many motor operated doors, garage doors can crash off the tracks due to things placed around or below the door. When the door is closed it bounces awkwardly when it hits an obstruction and one or many hinges throw the door off track. Simply put, consistently clean around the base and sides of the door and it can save some heartache.
- Complete Inspection of Garage Door Opener- Inspect the bracket attachment at the panel to ensure it is tightly connected to your garage door opener. Ensure the belt or chain drive is tight and not bouncing. The belt or chain shouldn’t be too tight but sagging 1-4″ to1-2″ below level. Check the drive gear and sprocket and also batteries. Operators typically last 20-30 years when your door is regularly serviced. Both units are totally separate. Your door function could be causing issues with the operator and vice versa.
Garage doors need maintenance. They can often last several years before needing to replace parts. The most expensive fix is obviously replacing the full door, and frankly the cost of manufacturing is always on the rise. Do yourself a favor and complete regular maintenance to give your door its full life! If you see something that is a bit over your skill level, call a garage door professional.
This video doesn’t include all of these tips but it is a good visual for what I am talking about. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17VBMDGCMF/