The overhead door is your garage's largest moving part — and with an average of six up-and-downs a day, it's also one of the most used. This is why garage door maintenance is important, but it's often overlooked or deemed unessential.
Let's talk about the things you can do quarterly, semiannually, and annually to protect your overhead garage door. Mark your calendar and follow our tuneup tips, and your garage door should stay operational for many years after purchase.
Think of the home or vehicle maintenance tasks you might be doing quarterly. Testing your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, for example, or cleaning your windows. Add these quick and simple tips to that list, and you’ll be on a schedule that will keep your door functioning properly.
Regular cleaning of your garage door will prevent dirt buildup and corrosion.
Here’s a simple three-step process:
Your automatic garage door opener needs to detect anything in the door’s path. If there are obstructions, the door should automatically reverse directions to prevent injury or property damage.
To test this feature:
If your garage door is still not reversing properly after cleaning the sensors, call a repair technician. Do not operate your door without this safety feature working correctly.
These are tasks that you can set your watch to — literally. Twice a year, when we go in or out of daylight saving time and move the clocks ahead or back an hour, remember these important maintenance tips.
Stand in your garage and observe the door going both up and down. Look at the tracks, the cables, and the pulleys. Does anything look or sound out of the ordinary?
Apply Clopay Synthetic Pro Lube, which can be found at Home Depot, to your door opener’s chain or screw-drive.
For your door’s rollers and hinges, lightweight oil will get the job done. If anything appears to stick, spray with WD-40, wipe clean, and then apply Clopay Synthetic Pro Lube.
Do not use a lubricant on the door’s tracks. That could cause your door to slip and become unbalanced.
And while you’re at it, take a few extra minutes to tighten all bolts and hardware on your garage door system. Things will naturally loosen over time as the door is regularly raised and lowered.
Your garage door needs to be properly balanced for the door’s mechanical parts not to be overly stressed.
To check the balance of your garage door:
If your garage door is not balanced, contact a service technician before operating the door.
Pick one time each year — the anniversary of your home purchase or garage purchase, for example. Whatever day you come up with, mark your calendar, and commit to this important annual task.
We recommend that you have your garage door inspected once a year by a professional.
When it comes to garage door maintenance, always err on the side of caution as parts eventually wear out. If you’re handy, you can consult your owner’s manual and safely take on parts replacement yourself. If the repair involves the springs, the door sections, or the opener, we recommend consulting a garage door maintenance professional.
This, in tandem with our do-it-yourself garage door maintenance tips, will allow for the longest possible life of your door.
Dakota Storage Buildings is committed to using the highest-quality materials. As we say about our sheds, garages, kennels, and coops: Built Well. Built Tough.
We believe that if you buy right the first time and follow our tips for proper garage door maintenance, you’ll have a reliable space that will add curb appeal, functionality, and value to your property.
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