A modern garage door should last for well over a decade, but those systems must withstand an incredible amount of wear and tear over the years. Luckily, basic maintenance is relatively easy, and carrying out a few simple tasks will keep your garage door running smoothly for many years to come.
Start with an Inspection
You might open and close your garage door thousands of times a year, and that use is going to take its toll. At least once a month, you should carefully inspect every major component of the system including the brackets, motor, spring, and rollers. You might also want to open and close the garage door a few times while you listen for any unusual creaking or grinding noises. Those noises might be a sign that your garage door is unbalanced.
Lubricate the Moving Parts
Keeping your garage door lubricated could add multiple years to its lifespan, but you must make sure that you are using the right products. If you can’t find garage door lube, then many experts suggest that you use white lithium grease. Lubricant usually needs to be applied at least once a year, and you should thoroughly clean all of the moving parts before you lube them.
Test the Auto-Reverse Feature
Almost all garage doors have an auto-reverse system, and you must test that safety feature once every few months. The auto-reverse feature is usually triggered by photoelectric sensors near the bottom of the rollers. To test that system, all you need to do is press the primary button on one of your garage door openers and wave an object in front of the cells. The garage door should automatically stop and reverse as soon as there is something in its path.
Clean and Paint the Door
The vast majority of garage doors are made from steel, and that metal is going to rust if there are any cracks or chips in the paint. Depending on where you live, you might need to repaint your garage door as often as once every three or four years. When you are painting your garage door, you should take a look at the weatherstripping to see if it needs to be replaced as well.
You might be able to carry out most maintenance tasks with a few basic tools and supplies, but major mechanical repairs should always be left to the professionals. Garage door springs are extremely dangerous, and you could end up with a life-altering injury if you try to fix any serious issues on your own.