Whether your garage serves primarily as storage, an entryway to your home, or a home for your car when it’s not in use, with summer here, now is the ideal time to ensure that your garage door has had the proper maintenance it needs to operate smoothly throughout the year.
Annual garage door maintenance is an integral part of ensuring that your garage door will not only run smoothly and safely, but that it will also last you for years with minimal repairs. Garage door maintenance can mean the difference between a garage door that will last you for decades versus needing to replace it after only a few years.
While repairs and part replacements will likely need to be handled by a professional, there are many things you can do on your own to provide maintenance for your garage door.
One of the most important aspects of your garage door to continuously monitor is the springs – while you should never try to repair garage door springs on your own, you can keep an eye on them to determine if and when they need professional attention. As part of annual maintenance, a professional garage door contractor may need to perform spring readjustments as springs wear over time.
The spring mechanisms used to hold up and operate the movement of your garage door need to be properly inspected, repaired and replaced in order to keep your garage door working in tip-top shape. You should regularly perform the following steps to see if your garage door needs adjustment:
- Pull the manual release cord (red rope in the center of the door in most garages).
- By hand, open the door halfway – it should rest about halfway open on its own.
- By hand, bring the door to the full open position – the door should stay there on its own also.
- Confirm that the door is rolling smoothly both open and closed and that anyone in the household can easily operate the door by hand.
If your door doesn’t pass the tests above (it will not stay open at the halfway/full open positions or does not roll smoothly), your garage door is in need of service. Failing to receive necessary repairs to your door can result in further damage and safety emergencies.
If your door does pass the tests above, it’s in good shape! Continue to normally lubricate rollers, hinges, and springs using an appropriate lubricant.
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