Tips to Extend the Life of Your Garage Door

In Miami, FL, even with the beautiful weather we are lucky to enjoy, your garage door has a lot of work to do to keep out the elements of wind and rain, as well as sand and debris. Even with proper maintenance and care, there still might come a time when you find yourself in need of garage door repairs or a professional touch. By maintaining your garage door regularly, you will usually catch these early, which will keep your costs for repair and the extent of the repair from becoming significantly higher. As soon as you notice a problem with your garage door that is impeding the performance of your door, get in touch with Optimal Garage Repair ASAP so we can help you assess the problem.

If you keep your garage door and the mechanism that controls it well-maintained, it will reward you by lasting for decades. Despite having to put time into the care of your door, you will be likely preventing costly repairs and even damage to your door that could put the safety of your family or vehicle at risk.

Clean your garage door parts and opener mechanism regularly.

You’ll want to periodically inspect your garage door for dirt, mold, and mildew on either the inside or the outside. Mold is especially worrisome if it gets inside, as it has the potential to spread to other areas of your garage, cause damage, and even potentially be hazardous to your health. If you identify any of these on your garage door, turn the power off, and use a hose or a sponge to scrub away the offending substance. Make sure that the entire surface of the garage door dries completely when you are finished. Inspect the weather-stripping around your garage door for any signs of wear and tear, and replace those spots promptly to keep the elements out.

You don’t want to use water on any of the other parts of your door mechanism, however, as this can be dangerous since you’re dealing with electricity. Instead, clean these by removing any debris or cobwebs that you find. Make sure to keep pests like insects and rodents out of your garage, and act on the first sign of any such infestation.

Inspect the wiring of the garage door system for any damage.

The wires can wear out over time, especially if you’ve had your garage door for over 15 years. Check all of the areas of wires attached to your garage door sensors, the opener mechanism, and the wall transmitter. These wires can also fall prey to rodents and insects that give them a nibble. If you notice any areas where the wires are frayed, missing their insulation, or otherwise damaged, it’s important to replace those wires promptly. You can find instructions online for how to do this yourself, which can be beneficial if you have some experience with electrical wiring and you want to keep costs low. The most important thing is that you turn off the power to your garage door when working on the wires, so as not to risk electrocution. If you’d rather leave it up to the professionals, don’t hesitate to put in a service call.

Keep your garage door parts lubricated for best performance.

Keeping your garage door moving parts, like the chain, well-lubricated is one of the best ways to extend your garage door’s life. It’s an easy job that you only have to perform once or twice a year, and costs very little for supplies. You can pick up garage door spray lubricant at most hardware supply stores and you’ll only need a can or two. Most of the door mechanism’s moving parts should be lubricated, including the springs, cables, and rollers. This lubricant will allow the moving parts to function smoothly and optimally, preventing them from incurring wear and tear. Parts that are not properly lubricated have to work harder and therefore burn out faster, necessitating a replacement.

Have your garage door rebalanced if it seems off-kilter.

This is a scenario that requires a professional to manage due to the potential for error that could be dangerous. Over time, your garage door can become unbalanced for many reasons. Usually it has something to do with the springs. An unbalanced garage door can warp the tracks, cause the springs to work harder than they have to, and eventually cause your motor to wear out faster. That’s why it’s important to have your garage door balanced by a professional if you notice that it’s off balance. To personally check the balance of your garage door, lift the door a few feet from the ground. If it’s off balance, it will slowly begin to lower by itself. If this is the case, a garage door repair professional can rebalance the door so that it will return to its optimal state.

Pay attention to the function of your door and promptly act on any signs of trouble.

Test your garage door sensors occasionally by intentionally inserting something in between the two sensor eyes, in the center of the beam they create. Make sure this is something that is safe to place there, like a piece of wood. Then operate the door. If your sensors are working correctly, the door should pick up on the obstruction and stop itself, then go in reverse. If this doesn’t happen, you should call a professional garage door repair service right away for advice. The sensors may need to be realigned or otherwise repaired.

To get the most out of your garage door year after year, it’s important to keep up with this routine maintenance. It may seem time-consuming, but will soon become a part of your routine. By keeping your door maintained, you can keep your garage door performing optimally, and may avoid costly repairs caused by neglect. If issues do arise, you’ll be able to spot them quicker and get a professional on the job.