Must-Do Maintenance Tips for Your Garage Door

For home and commercial business owners in Merrillville and Griffith with garage doors, performing garage door maintenance can reduce the chance of an accident occurring and mitigate long-term repair costs. Here are some must-do maintenance tips for your garage door:

Test Garage Door Balance

Testing garage door balance is one of the most import acts of maintenance you can do. If your garage door isn’t properly balanced, it could be dangerous. What’s more, an improperly balanced garage door requires more energy to open and close, and leads to more wear and tear, decreasing longevity. To test the garage door balance, manually move the garage door about halfway up from the ground. If the garage door does not stay put, then the garage door balance (specifically, the counterweight system) is misaligned or/and improperly balance. A professional garage door servicing company can correct garage door balance.

Check Auto-reverse Features

Most garage doors are equipped with an obstruction sensor and auto-reverse feature. These safety features ensure that if something is in the way of a garage door closing, the garage will detect the object, and reverse motion, re-opening rather than continuing to close. Auto-reverse features are extremely important, and can prevent a garage from closing on a stationary object, causing property damage, or from closing on a person or pet. To check your auto reverse features, use a long-handled broom. Close your garage door, and wave the broom handle in front of the sensor. If the garage door doesn’t cease its descent, you need to have your sensors checked immediately. You can also use a 2×4, roll of toilet paper, or other object to check sensors.

Lubricate Moving Parts

Lubricating moving parts of your garage door system will help to ensure that everything is operating as smoothly as possible. You only need to lubricate moving parts—especially garage door springs—about once a year. If you’re not sure where to begin, don’t hesitate to call a professional.

Perform a Physical Assessment of Your Garage Door

Finally, make sure your garage door is in tip-top shape by performing a physical assessment. Check for any dents or dings, or any areas where air may be leaking in. Depending upon the age of your garage door, you may need to replace the weather-stripping or update insulation. And if you have a wooden garage door, make sure you check for any signs of decay, including moisture damage, mold, and pest infestation.

Have Your Garage Door Checked by a Professional Today

Having your garage door checked by a professional once per year is another great maintenance tip. At Affordable Garage Door, Inc., we believe that some garage door repair jobs are best left up to the professionals. To get a free quote and to schedule an appointment today, call our Lake County offices at 219-696-4279 now.