As with any major appliance in your home, your garage door is a pretty substantial investment. To keep it running strong (and safe) for as long as possible, it is important to perform some regular maintenance tasks, many of which you can do yourself! Here is a short list of some we have deemed ultra DIY worthy!
Tighten Loose Hardware
Opening and closing more than a thousand times a year can lead to some seriously jiggly bolts! The key ones to focus on are the bolts that hold the rails to the supports and the roller brackets. This can be easily done with a socket wrench and save your garage door system from unnecessary wear and tear.
Lubricate Opener Chain or Screw and Torsion Spring
Before beginning this task, it is highly recommended that you consult your owner’s manual. This primarily concerns screw openers, as some do not require lubrication. Otherwise, this simple task can be done in under 5 minutes and will help to prevent corrosion and keep your parts working like new. A white lithium grease is recommended for chains and screws and coat your spring in a spray lubricant.
Inspect Rollers
Give your rollers a quick once over a couple times a year or so. For nylon rollers, keep an eye out for obvious chips and cracks and look for bearing wear on steel rollers. All of your rollers should be replaced every 5-7 years. You can find replacement rollers at any hardware store if you’re up for the task or simply give your garage door tech a call for a quick tune up.
Inspect Lift Cable
While replacing your lift cables is a job better suited for a professional, you can regularly clean and inspect them for any obvious damage. Check for any loose strands or signs of corrosion. The area of most concern should be near the bottom of the roller bracket or anywhere that is exposed to moisture.
Test Counterweight System Balance
Don’t worry! This sounds much more complicated than it actually is. To test the counterweight is simply to make sure the torsion spring is still doing its fair share of the work. Begin by putting your door in manual mode. If you open your garage door halfway and it doesn’t stay where you leave it, you may need some tweaking. And, just like the lift cable, garage door springs are a job for the pros. Even the most amazing DIYer is better off avoiding these guys, as they are under some pretty serious tension and, should something go wrong, you could be pretty seriously injured!
Test Auto Reverse
Safety first! That awesome little laser beam that spans the base of your door is there for more than just looks. Keep the little ones (both 2 and 4 legged) safe by ensuring everything is functioning properly! A quick test that works perfectly and takes about 2 minutes is to simply lay a large paper towel roll under the door. If it does not stop and reverse quickly upon contact it is time to make a phone call!
Clean Tracks
You need to clean out the garage anyway right! Ok, even if you’re not up for a whole spring cleaning, it’s really easy to quickly sweep out the garage door tracks. Making sure they stay free of debris will save time and money in the long run. Dirty tracks can cause problems with alignment which can lead to even more issues down the road. Takes around 5 minutes, not too tough, right?
Replace Weather Stripping
This is an easy one that people like to put off forever. It is important that your weather stripping is working well as it will help save money on energy bills and help keep dirt and dust out of your home. Replacing old, dry, cracked stripping is as easy as running down to the hardware store. It is sold by the foot and it just slides in and out of grooves on the bottom of the door.
It really is easy to add years to the life of your garage door. With a couple of quick and easy maintenance chores and some great service techs, like our guys here at Precision Doors Orange County, you can keep your door running like new for a good long time.
