Garage Door Maintenance: Simple Steps to Keep Your Garage Door Smooth and Functional

Keeping up with regular garage door maintenance is important to ensure smooth operation and extend the life of your garage door. With some basic care and inspection, you can catch small issues before they become bigger problems. In this blog post, we will discuss simple maintenance tasks you can do yourself to keep your garage door running well.

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Understanding Your Garage Door’s Components

Garage doors have moving parts like rollers, hinges, springs, and cables that all work together to open and close the door smoothly. Over time, these components can wear down with use if not properly lubricated. It’s helpful to familiarize yourself with your door’s basic components so you know what to inspect during maintenance checks.

Monthly Maintenance Tasks

Some simple monthly maintenance tasks include:

  • Lubricating rollers, hinges, and moving parts with a dry silicone spray.
  • Tightening any loose hardware, bolts, or screws.
  • Inspecting cables for signs of rust, fraying or loose connections.
  • Checking that the door tracks are clean and clear of debris.
  • Testing the garage door opener functions and safety sensors.

Taking just a few minutes to do these tasks each month is very helpful for smooth operation and preventing bigger issues down the road.

Annual Deep Cleaning and Inspection

Once a year, perform a more thorough cleaning and inspection:

  • Remove tracks and rollers to clean out built-up dirt and debris.
  • Inspect tracks for cracks or damage and replace if needed.
  • Check cables for rust, fraying or loose connections and replace if necessary.
  • Inspect springs and brackets for signs of wear, corrosion or cracks.
  • Lubricate all moving components and pulleys.
  • Tighten any mounting hardware.
  • Test the force and reversal settings on the opener.
  • Check the door balance and make adjustments if needed.

Having a certified technician inspect your door annually can catch small issues before they require more expensive repairs. Proper garage door spring repair Laurel is also important for safety.

FAQs

How often should I perform garage door maintenance?

Most garage door experts recommend basic monthly maintenance and a more thorough annual inspection. This allows you to catch small problems before they escalate and helps extend the life of your door.

When should I consider garage door spring repair or replacement?

Signs that garage door springs may need attention include snapping or popping noises, doors that won’t open fully or are difficult to operate, or broken or loose coils on the springs. It’s recommended to call a professional for a spring inspection every 2-3 years, as springs wear out over time and can potentially be dangerous if broken.