**Must-Know Tips for Garage Door Care** – A garage door could be the **main and most-used** feature of a home.
Repairing a broken door can be expensive, and that is why it is essential for you to take time to regularly conduct preventative care and maintenance.
Aside from the routine check-up you do with your professional garage door contractor, there is some preventive maintenance you can do yourself that requires no special skills.
To ensure that your door continues to operate smoothly and keep your family from safety hazards, here are some maintenance tips to help you:
Observe your door for any unusualities
This is far by the easiest in the list as it requires you to just use your eyes and ears.
Every time you use your garage door, check for any unusual sights or sounds.
As the door moves, do you notice any strange noises?
Do parts (cables, springs, pulleys) look strained or shaky?
Do you see excessive rust?
Take note of these things as they are signs for any issues that can lead to significant repairs.
Maintenance Tips for Garage Doors – Inspect the hardware
Your door is constantly moving.
Its fastening parts can loosen over time and lead to less safety.
If you operate your garage door with loosened hardware, then the door’s function and alignment can be inefficient.
Inspect and tighten the nuts and bolts, and keep an eye out for wear and tear in the lift cables, as well in the rollers.
If you think you may need a replacement for any parts, just head to the nearest hardware store.
However, if you are unsure about doing the actual replacement yourself, leave it to the professionals and call a technician.
Lubricate moving parts
A lot of garage door parts are made of metal.
The more you use it, the more friction there is.
As you may know, friction is the biggest contributor to door problems so remember to annually lubricate the chains or screws on your opener.
The best lubricant to use is white lithium grease, so always keep a can ready onhand.
Additionally, torsion and extension springs that are found above roller tracks should also be lubricated and cleaned with WD-40 to prevent corrosion.
Keep moisture out
Weather-stripping is an effective way of ensuring a dry garage as well as keeping door parts rust-free.
If you notice that the rubber weather seal at the bottom of your door has worn down and has become brittle, replace it immediately to keep moisture from your garage.
If you see any gaps that stay even after replacing your weather seal, then you may want to replace the door itself.
Remember to invest in a good seal as it keeps your door operating seamlessly and protects the insides of your garage.
Test the safety of your door
Garage doors rely heavily on its safety features.
In order to have a safer door, you must check its balance.
Properly balanced doors are less likely to crush anything in their closing path.
The right balancing also serves as a prevention from your door from working harder than it should be.
To test the balance of your door, disengage the opener by pulling the release handle and lowering it until you reach halfway.
If it holds its position without any assistance, then your door is balanced.
If not, then its springs are in too much tension and need to be adjusted. Be aware that a professional is best suited to do this job for you.
Another thing you have to test is your door’s auto-reverse feature.
Garage doors have two working mechanisms: mechanical and photocell.
Remember to check both features monthly.
If your door does not reverse quickly if it detects an object nearby or on its closing path, call your technician right away.
While it is easy to take your garage doors for granted, always remember that a faulty door leads to serious safety hazards for you and your family.
Learning to do preventive maintenance on your own can be challenging so if you feel unsure about something you come across, it’s always better to be safe and contact a professional.
Numerous garage door repair companies are always available for anyone residing in Mississauga, Toronto, Markham or Newmarket.
