Prevention is better and more economical than repairs and that is why maintaining your garage door before it breaks down is paramount.
It is so easy to forget about your garage door till it stops working, or maybe you do not even know your door needs constant maintenance to continue to work.
Well, if you want to keep using your garage door and not keep spending money on repairs or outright replacement, then maintenance is critical.
That’s not all; a bad door can also mean an accident or even death. There are about 20,000 garage door accidents yearly and this is down to a large extent on the state of the garage door. To keep your family safe, you have to invest a little more time to maintain the garage door.
The exciting part is that these tips wouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, it requires very little time, money, and effort to complete but can save you a lot more damages in the future.
Before I share with you my top 5 tips for maintaining your garage door, what does garage door maintenance entails?
What Garage Door Maintenance Entails
If you’ve never maintained your garage door or you’re a new garage door owner, you may be wondering what maintaining a garage door entails. Would you need to take it out for a spin like a car? Or would you need to open it and close it continuously?
Not to worry, maintaining a garage door does not involve any of these stressful activities. Instead, it involves tiny things that’ll take care of your door without stressing you out or burning a hole in your pocket. This includes observation, lubrication, and cleaning.
My Top 5 Maintenance Tips for Your Garage Door
Here are my top tips to keep your garage door in top shape and ensure it doesn’t break down.
Cleaning and Repainting
Your garage door can give your home a new look. You can give your garage door a facelift and in turn make your home look new by cleaning and repainting.
After using your garage door for a while it’ll pick up dirt, grease stains, and may rust for steel doors. This simple and easy maintenance tip can give your door a new look.
- First, wash the door with water and mild detergent; this will remove dirt, grease, and grime that has built up over time
- Sand the rusted areas and apply a primer
- Repaint the garage door; you can use an entirely new color or go over it with the same paint color
- Use exterior latex paint for steel doors to prevent further rust
Check the Track
Garage doors may be big and heavy but they can leave their tracks easily. This is why it is critical to check the tracks from time to time to ensure the door has not shifted from its alignment.
Another way to examine the door is to check for cracks and dents on the door. These dents may be caused by bicycle accidents or minimal contact from the car bumper.
The dents may look too small but they can shift the door from its alignment and make it difficult to close or open properly.
For minor dents, you can pound them out with a rubber hammer. Major dents may require a complete track replacement. This may require the services of experts. If you live around Thousand oaks, you can employ the services of experts in garage doors repair near Thousand Oaks.
Lubricate Moving Parts
You should lubricate moving parts of your garage door to reduce friction and the effects of wear and tear. This is especially important during or after the winter months as low temperatures can easily break down the lubrication in these parts.
Adjust the Door’s Sensitivity
Changing seasons and weather, time, and even dirt can affect the sensitivity of the door. So you need to check and adjust the door’s sensitivity from the motor box regularly.
Tighten All Hardware
The constant usage of the garage door can force the hardware to loosen, this includes bolts and nuts. Make use of screws and spanners to tighten all loose hardware and make it safe for use.
Conclusion
Maintenance will save you money and disappointments; it is also less stressful than repairs. So why not up your garage door maintenance culture by practicing my top 5 garage door maintenance tips.