Garage door repairs may need to be done on a regular basis in order to keep it in good shape and help you get back the investment that you put into it. This means that it’s a good idea for you to have a garage door maintenance checklist to use so that you make sure you remember everything. From garage door basics to more complex details, it’s important to make sure that you know what needs to be done at every point in time. To this end, you should search online and also talk to the garage door expert that you hire.
Ask this professional to give you a guide that includes some garage door maintenance tips so that you know exactly what you need to do to keep the garage door looking and working its best. Remember, however, that the garage door is one of the elements in your home that you shouldn’t attempt to DIY. Even if you know the theory of something like how to maintain garage door springs, you may want to step back and let an expert handle these projects. They’ll have the training and tools to do a great job, and they’ll also do the project safely.
If you’re wondering how to fix a roll-up garage door, it’s crucial to rely on the expertise of a reputable garage door company. Attempting repairs without proper knowledge and tools can exacerbate the issue, potentially compromising the door’s functionality and safety.
When facing issues like a cracked garage door or a broken garage door spring, seeking assistance from a reliable local garage door company is paramount. These professionals specialize in addressing various garage door problems, including the repair of a garage door cracked in the middle or fixing broken springs.
A cracked garage door, especially if it’s cracked in the middle, poses security and safety risks. Promptly contacting a local garage door company ensures a swift assessment and effective resolution of the problem. These professionals are equipped with the necessary skills and tools to address cracked or damaged doors efficiently.
Relying on a trusted local garage door company for issues like cracked doors, broken springs, or roll-up door problems guarantees a swift and efficient resolution, restoring the security and functionality of your garage door. You can get help on how to fix a roll up garage door and other issues by working with the pros.
It’s important to remember that the garage door is one of your home’s entries. This means that you have to keep it in good shape so that it’s secure and also functions optimally. To do this, you should find a reliable garage door company that you can work with. They should be adept at handling issues like garage door trolley not moving and know the details of garage door stripped gear.
To find a professional to help you with something like the garage door trolley stuck in closed position, you can search online. Use terms like “garage door trolley stuck” and take a look at the results. Most of them will be details of possible issues, as well as some solutions. These will be shared by garage door companies, so you can take a look at them to find the best professionals among them. These should have great reviews as well as a long span of experience.
When you find the best professional, they can help you in a number of ways. These include repairing the issue you have and advising you on the right steps to take towards preventative maintenance. As a result, you can gladly say goodbye to garage door woes.
Garage door service is an important part of keeping your home’s garage door in good shape. If there are any issues in the background, you don’t have to wait for them to get worse and call for more time and money to fix. A professional can inspect and maintain your garage door over time and make sure that it gives you maximum service over time. If you don’t know any professionals, search online using a term like “garage restoration near me” and take a look at the results.
You could also search for a professional by listing your problem to start with. For instance, “garage door hums but does not open” is a search that will return possible solutions as well as a few professionals. You can also search for “garage door motor runs but chain doesn’t move” or even “garage door hinge screws pulled out.” Because there will be a number of results for you to consider, try and look for those that seem legitimate and good quality.
When you find a reliable professional with whom you can work, it will be less stressful for you to take care of your garage door. You can enjoy amazing service from it and pleasant curb appeal to boot. This makes it worth taking time to find the right professional to work with.
How often should you have your garage door serviced? The short answer—at least once a year by a professional service technician. Yet, because of factors such as environmental exposure and frequency of use, your garage door may need more frequent servicing. Regular maintenance improves safety, longevity, and convenience. Let’s explore a detailed answer to your question. How often should you have your garage door serviced?
Questions to Help You Determine Garage Door Servicing Schedule
A well-functional garage door is essential for your home, car security, and convenience. Knowing when to schedule maintenance can be time and cost-saving. Here are six questions to help you determine how to schedule garage door maintenance.
Question 1: How Old Is Your Garage Door?
Age is among the most critical factors when determining how often to service the garage door. The older your door is, the more frequently you may need servicing. Most garage doors have a lifespan of 15-30 years. If your garage is approaching this age range, it may need frequent servicing.
How Often Should You Have Your Garage Door Serviced? As a general rule of thumb, once per year. However, if your garage door is approaching ten years, twice per year would be more helpful. If you need to figure out how often you should service your door, it’s best to talk with a technician.
Question 2: How Frequently Do You Use Your Garage Door?
Another factor to consider when determining the frequency of servicing is usage. The more you use your garage door, the more likelihood of wear and tear. Heavy usage makes the springs lose, and breakdowns are more likely. A new garage door will have more resistance, but older doors will be more vulnerable to heavy usage.
You should service your garage door twice a year if you open your garage door more than thrice a day. Still, your door would benefit from yearly servicing if your usage is lower than that. Work with a technician for the specifics of your maintenance plan.
Question 3: What Does the Manufacturer Recommend?
The manufacturer is best placed to answer the question: how often should you have your garage door serviced? Even before garage door installations, a manufacturer gives guidelines for maintenance. Manufacturers often use components and types of material to craft a maintenance schedule. Following the manufacturer’s schedule can prolong your door’s lifespan.
If you ignore the manufacturer’s guidelines, you could jeopardize your warranty claim. Still, the manufacturer’s recommendations are only a guideline. You may need to adjust to your specific needs, for example, if you live in a humid climate.
Question 4: What Type of Garage Door Opener Do You Use?
How often should your garage door be serviced? It depends on your door opener. If you use chain-drive openers, you may need more frequent servicing. While durable, they have a high potential for chain wear and tear. Belt-drive openers may be quieter than chain-drive. But they need regular servicing to keep the belt in good condition.
Screw drive door openers have fewer moving parts. Thus, a yearly servicing schedule may be suitable. The openers with the least maintenance need are direct drives. They are the most expensive, though. You may need professional garage door opener repairs if you notice any issues, such as wear and tear.
Question 5: What Type of Material is Your Garage Door Made Of?
Your garage door hardware material will determine how frequently you service it. Wooden doors are often the highest maintenance. They need an annual inspection and servicing. Most of the materials need an annual inspection unless there are other circumstances. For example, although they’re low-maintenance, steel doors need lubrication. Aluminum doors are also low-maintenance, but they dent easily.
Fiberglass is another good option but requires annual servicing. Some materials have more resistance and thus can go long without maintenance. It’s best to do maintenance annually to ensure convenience and avoid costly repairs.
Question 6: What’s the Typical Climate?
How often should you have your garage serviced? It depends on the environmental exposures. The components may wear faster than normal if you live in hot and humid environments. Rust and corrosion may be more prevalent in icy places with high rainfall. You may also need regular cleaning and lubrication in a dusty, desert-like climate.
You may also need regular servicing if you live in disaster-prone areas. When disaster strikes, an inspection assures you that the garage is in good condition. You can do garage door spring repairs to align with the seasons.
Recommendations for Garage Door Maintenance Intervals
After answering the above questions, you have a rough answer: how often should your garage door be serviced? Generally, you should schedule maintenance with a professional technician once a year. For DIY servicing, this can happen yearly. Annual servicing for most residential garage doors can save you money and secure your garage. It could even save lives. A report by the U.S. Customer Product Safety Commission, garage door injuries affect 20,000-30,000 people annually and other related costs.
Seasonal changes affect the performance of the door. For example, humidity and high temperatures can cause some components to loosen up. Doing seasonal maintenance ensures your garage remains functional. Spring is warmer, so it’s a good time to schedule repairs. You can do a complete garage door spring repair.
Summer can cause lubricants to dry faster, and dust and debris can accumulate on components and the track. So, keep an eye on lubrication levels. During fall, ensure the weather stripping is in good condition to prevent draft and moisture from penetrating. During winter, ensure the hinges and opener are well-lubricated because of problems with freezing.
What Does Garage Door Repair and Maintenance Involve?
A technician will help you answer the question: how often should your garage door be serviced? Technicians also help with maintenance. Hiring a professional or going DIY is based on your skills and preferences. Whether you go DIY or professional, here is what garage door maintenance involves.
1. Inspecting and Maintaining Key Components
You or the garage door contractors will inspect the key components to ensure they are in good work condition. The springs bear the garage door’s weight, so they need retightening to adjust the tension. The technician will inspect and lubricate the rollers during the inspection to ensure they move smoothly and quietly. Another critical component during servicing is the cables. The technician will inspect if they can lower and lift the door without problems.
Hinges allow the door to move forward and backward. The technician will lubricate them to ensure frictionless movement. Weatherstripping also requires maintenance because it gets damaged and worn. A technician will typically have a checklist to check that everything is working as it should.
2. Lubricating Moving Parts
An essential aspect of door maintenance is ensuring all moving parts are frictionless and dust-free. Use a suitable lubricant such as silicon-based because it can withstand high temperatures. Lubrication helps prevent wear and tear and protects components from failure. Although lubrication can be done annually, you may need to lubricate components if you hear squeaking sounds. A word of caution, though, over-lubricating can be just as harmful. So, only apply the right amount.
3. Inspecting Door Alignment and Balance
Misaligned doors are not only a safety concern but can also bear heavily on other components, such as the opener. You can identify door misalignment when you see a gap after closing the door. A lever can also help you ensure that the door is not slanting. Another indicator is jerky movements when your open the garage door. A technician will check the balance manually by disconnecting the opener. Then they manually open the door halfway. If the door falls, it needs some adjusting.
4. Testing Garage Door Safety Features
Did you know that poorly-maintained garage doors could cause death and injuries in some instances? That’s why testing garage door safety is important for maintenance checks. A technician will check the auto-reverse function. The feature causes the door to move in reverse direction if there’s a barrier on the track. Some doors have photoelectric sensors that keep the door from locking if someone is nearby. Inspecting safety features ensures protection for all garage users.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Garage
As discussed, environmental factors affect your garage door. The answer to the question: how often you should have your garage door serviced depends on climate control. While a professional technician can inspect your garage door once a year, you can also do DIY maintenance. Here are four garage DIY tips.
1. Keep the Garage Environment Comfortable
The garage environment is critical for keeping everything in good working condition. You can start by regulating temperature. Insulation ensures your garage has a certain temperature range and, thus, no energy loss. Weatherstrip your garage to prevent draft and moisture entry. A humidifier may also help reduce mildew and mold growth.
A climate-controlled garage protects your valuables and garage door from extreme damage. You can use space heaters to control temperatures during extreme weather conditions. It’s also recommendable to use fans and ventilation tools to keep fumes and gases from building up.
2. Secure Your Garage
An older study by Dasma shows that 45% of homeowners say their garage door is the primary entry point. Garage security should be a top priority if people can access your property and valuables through the garage door. A garage door company can help you install security features such as security locks and cameras.
Securing the garage starts with the door. It would be best to do regular servicing to ensure it’s in good working condition. Some materials, such as aluminum, are easy to bend, so it may be best to reinforce them. About door openers, try modern ones with roll codes and backup batteries. If you’re not using your garage, leave it locked even when you’re in the house. You can also install frost glass to prevent people from seeing inside.
3. Don’t Forget to Clean Regularly
How often should your garage door be serviced? Regularly. Sometimes servicing your door and garage is as simple as a clean-up. Sweep and dust the floor weekly to remove debris and dust. Install garage floor coating if the previous one is worn out. Wipe all surfaces, such as window frames and cabinets, with warm soapy water to remove grime.
Another place that’s easy to forget is the track. With dust and debris build-up, your door can get stuck. Stuck doors are not only an inconvenience but a safety concern. Remove the dirt with a long but semi-blunt end. Using water may cause rusting, so ensure you wipe dry. Also, ensure to dispose of waste that could contaminate the environment.
4. Control Pests
Pests can be a menace in your garage and door. According to Bob Vila, mice, termites, and snakes are some of the most common pests you’ll likely encounter. Your first step should be identifying the types of pests in your garage. Pests such as mice can build nests in your car if left alone for long periods. Use traps and repellents to keep pests off your garage.
Ensure your garage is inhabitable for pests. For example, weatherstrip your garage to seal any entry points. If you have food in the garage, seal it with polythene containers. It’s best to discard the food waste outside the garage altogether. If pest infestation is becoming an intractable problem, engage pest management services.
Many garage owners ask how often should you have your garage serviced. The short answer is once a year with a professional technician. However, the scheduling intervals depend on climate and door usage. Using this guide, you can determine the best maintenance scheduling for your garage door.
