Easy Ways To Maintain Your Garage Doors

When you think about the upkeep of your home, your garage door is often overlooked. But when it’s one of the first things people see when they arrive at your property, it is important to maintain your garage door correctly. Here are a range of easy ways to maintain your garage door to ensure it continues to operate safely and smoothly.

Cleaning & repainting:

This one goes without saying, but cleaning is one of the easiest ways to maintain your garage door. Inspect the door to see if you spot any rust spots that should be sanded, primed, and painted. If you find areas that need attention then remove the chipped and peeling paint, sand the area and repaint. If your garage door is looking a bit dirty and tired, then we recommend giving the outside of the garage door a clean with a soft cloth or sponge. Simply rinse with a bucket of water or a hose and if you use cleaning products, make sure you follow the instructions properly and check it is safe to use on the garage door’s materials.

We recommend thoroughly cleaning your garage door twice a year, or more frequently for people who live in salt-air climates.

Check the tracks & springs:

Pay close attention to the tracks on both sides of the garage door to check they’re rust-free with no debris. Take this time to also check to make sure the tracks are running correctly on their vertical sections by using a level. Remember to wear gloves whenever you handle springs and any other parts to avoid pinching.

You can also lubricate the tracks and springs with non-silicon based products, such as WD-40. Approximately twice a year we recommend applying a spray penetrating lubricant to the moving parts of your garage door. If any rollers or hinges seem stuck, try soaking them with kerosene. Use an old toothbrush to work the kerosene into the cracks. Just doing this can extend the life of your garage door by years.

Add or repair the garage door’s weatherstrips:

The rubber weatherstripping along the bottom of your garage door helps keep out the cold weather as well as any dust and dirt. They’re also a great way of saving money on your energy bills as it’s an eco-friendly way to keeping your garage a bit warmer. So, if you haven’t already added weatherstrips to the bottom edge of your door – you should.

Sold in home improvement stores and hardware shops, weatherstrips fit to the bottom of the garage door by a flange that attaches to the bottom of the door. If your existing weatherstips are in poor condition, reattach the loose areas or replace the strip completely to avoid further damage.

Check the door balance:

Your door balance is extremely important and should be checked regularly. Test the door balance by pulling the chord hanging from the door on the central track. This should lift the door manually and it should hang and release steadily. If it rises or drops or is difficult to open, then the door is not correctly balanced and the springs may need a replacement. We suggest calling a professional to correct an unbalanced door to repair appropriately.

We’re your local garage door experts who can assist with the replacement, repair and maintain of your garage door. Want to know more? Contact us, we’re always happy to help