Garage Door Maintenance Checklist

Garage doors undergo a lot of wear and tear; therefore, regular maintenance is required if you want to make them long-lasting. The door opens and closes numerous times in a day, so it is necessary for it to function smoothly. People don't usually give much attention to the maintenance of their garage doors and become worried when it starts giving problems. Sometimes it becomes too late, and the door has to be replaced completely as repairs are not enough to get it to function properly again. This happens when you neglect it for too long. The only way to ensure that the door of your garage is in top condition is to maintain it on a frequent basis. You can have a professional check and maintain your door at least once in two months. But, here is a checklist that will help you make sure that your garage door is getting proper attention.

1. Inspect the Entire System of the Garage Door

Garage doors open and close multiple times a day, and each cycle wears out the system. Ensure to keep an eye on the operating system always so that you can call a professional in time.

Inspect the door

Every six months, check the front of the door for blisters, cracks, or peeling. Also, check for dents and crevices from where moisture can get into your garage and cause mold to grow.

Opening and Closing Mechanism

The door should not cause any trouble when you open or close it with a remote. During startup, listen for a loud noise that indicates problems. If your door isn't responding or opening slowly, it needs repairs.

Seal Inspection

The seal around the garage door entrance prevents unwanted winds, rain, and snowfall from getting in the house. This guarantees that your house is kept at a normal temperature throughout the year. It can also prevent moisture from penetrating the door parts and causing rust. Check the sides of the door and if you see any gaps, get the seal replaced.

2. Check the Door Balance

Garage doors must remain well-balanced. Therefore you should get its balance checked. You can do this yourself as well. If you find that your door is out of balance, this means the opener needs repairs. To perform this test, cut the power from the opener. Then, after removing the release mechanism, manually raise the door halfway and then release it slowly. A well-balanced door must be stable and undamaged when opened, and it should not vibrate.

3. Get the Garage Door Parts Lubricated

Annual lubrication is important to prevent wear and tear of metal parts and prolong the door's life. Lubrication may seem like a tedious task, but it helps to stop noise and resolve other issues. Your garage door checklist for maintenance should include lubricating the hinges, rollers, guides, and pulleys. Use high-quality grease such as WD40 to keep the door operating efficiently.

4. Replace the Garage Door Opener

If your garage door opener is old, replacing it is usually your best option, even if repairs can fix it. Repairs are temporary solutions for the opener problems. Also, don't get hung up on old systems, as new technologies are always available. However, if you want smooth functioning from the garage door opener, get the battery of the opener remote replaced regularly. Make sure that you have a backup battery attached to the garage door opener. This will prevent the manual operation for opening and closing the door during the loss of electricity.

5. Garage Door Spring Repair

The garage door opener is responsible for releasing the spring to open and close the door. Although these springs are made to last approximately ten years, they start to wear out with time. Sometimes your garage door might also additionally make a noisy sound which means that your springs now no longer work properly. The best thing is to get these springs repaired immediately; however, replacing them is a perfect option. But replacing garage door springs is a tough task, and you might need a professional for it.

6. Check the Lifting Cables and Get them Repaired

The garage door lift cable is a very strong cable that can open and close the door by actuating a torsion spring. The cable prevents the spring from kicking back, allowing the spring to continue to function safely to operate the door. However, cables do not last forever and can lose their tension with time, so they must be replaced. It shows if the cable is rusted or worn out. Also, noises such as creaking, rattling or grinding, or not opening or closing at all indicate that opening cables need to be replaced. You must ensure that the cable is wrapped on the spool on the top of the vertical guide and working properly. If you need the cables to be replaced, let the professionals do the job.

Follow the garage door maintenance checklist shared above to keep a check on the door from time to time so that you may know when it needs repairs and replacement.