Whether you use your garage for storing your vehicle or as an additional storage space for those items you prefer not to store in your home, if your garage door should develop a fault this can make access a problem.
There is nothing worse than wanting to get into your garage only to discover that your garage door isn’t opening. Read on as we take a look at some of the things that you can do to optimise your garage door and hopefully ensure that this does not happen.
What are the benefits of regular maintenance?
Beyond ensuring that you will be able to open your garage door when you need to, regular maintenance will also help to extend the lifespan of your garage door. It can also help you to avoid costly repairs. This is because you are more likely to catch small issues before they become big problems. Plus, this can reduce the potential for an accident to occur which might cause injury. When you carry out regular maintenance on your garage door you can also ensure that it works smoothly without making too much noise, provides better insulation to your property and it may even add value to your home.
You should check your garage door at least every 12 months, but if you can, a quick check every 6 months is even better.
Clean tracks
Dirt, debris and cobwebs will undoubtedly settle in the tracks of your garage door. Cleaning this out will help to ensure it opens smoothly.
· Remove any dirt with a damp cloth allowing the track to dry fully
· Difficult to reach areas may be easier to clean with a vacuum
Tighten hardware
Loose parts can easily fall out of your garage door and track. Tightening them will help to ensure that this does not happen and prevent further damage from happening.
· Check carefully that all the bolts, brackets and screws are not loose, pay particular attention to those around the rollers and hinges
· Use the appropriate tools to ensure any loose parts are secured and make sure everything is properly in place.
Lubricate the moving parts of your garage door
When you regularly lubricate the moving parts of your garage door, you are reducing the friction and wear that can be caused. This ensures that your garage door operates smoothly, noise is reduced during operation and you can also prolong the lifespan of the parts that make up your door by reducing the possibility of them sticking or seizing.
· Clean any moving parts to remove the dirt
· Use a recommended lubricant and apply it to the rollers, tracks, springs, and hinges. Avoid using a product that is grease or oil based
· Wipe off any excess lubricant – this will help to prevent build-up
· Finally you should open and close your garage door in order to ensure the lubricant is distributed evenly
Check the balance of the door
The balance of your garage door is essential to its smooth operation. It helps to prevent too much strain being placed on the opener. When you check the balance of your garage door regularly you will help to minimise wear on all those essential components. Essentially, this can maximise the lifespan of your garage door. A door that is not balanced can be difficult to open or close and this can make it unsafe. When this occurs it is really important to call in a garage door specialist to fix it.
Sometimes, even with the best regular maintenance routine for your garage door it may get to the point where it is more cost effective to have the door replaced rather than repaired.
