A Guide to Garage Door Maintenance
Home maintenance goes hand in hand with home ownership, and your garage door is no exception. Most people don’t think about their garage doors until they begin to screech and groan, but it’s important to have them checked regularly before anything goes wrong. In fact, providing regular maintenance to your garage door will increase its lifespan, add value to your home and save you money in the long run. Here’s a quick guide to garage door maintenance to ensure yours works well for years to come.
How Do I Know it’s Time for a Tune-Up?
Garage doors should open and close without complaint so if it’s making noise, you need to have it checked. Screeching and grinding sounds are signs that your door needs to be lubricated, a task that your technician will take care of during a scheduled maintenance visit. Other signs of trouble include your door opening and closing too slowly, stopping before it closes completely, or opening at an angle. All of these symptoms just mean that your garage door needs a little TLC, and without proper maintenance, your door is at risk of falling and injuring you or a member of your family. Parts can wear out and break over time and a technician can replace them so your garage door is running smoothly again.
How Often Should I Service my Garage Door?
Most residential garage doors need to be serviced yearly so they can continue operating effectively. Commercial garage doors, on the other hand, may need to be serviced more often. If your commercial door isn’t used daily, you can get away with having it serviced yearly. If you’re using it daily or more often, you may want to have it checked quarterly. When your garage door is doing an excessive amount of heavy lifting, your springs can wear out quickly and several parts will require more frequent lubrication, so don’t skip a regularly scheduled service appointment.
What Does Garage Door Maintenance Entail?
With daily wear and tear, your garage door’s guide tracks, hinges and wheels can get stuck, causing a loud grinding sound. These parts need lots of lubrication so the door can move smoothly when it opens and closes. Hardware like bearings, rollers, pads and chains can also wear out over time and may need to be replaced. Springs and lifting cables are often common culprits in garage door issues since they can lose tension over time. Your technician will carefully examine all the parts that work together to lift your door and they will lubricate and replace them as needed. With regular maintenance, a technician can diagnose and treat problems before they become major issues that could be expensive and dangerous for your family.
Should I DIY or Hire a Professional?
Many homeowners like the challenge of a DIY project, but garage door maintenance should not be one of them. Garage doors are very heavy and they’re held up by springs and cables that are under a tremendous amount of tension. If you decide to service your garage door yourself, you can get seriously injured so we never recommend homeowners to tackle these projects. Experienced technicians are privy to all the intricate parts involved in your garage door’s operation and there’s not a lot of wiggle room when it comes to successful assembly. Springs can break, doors can fall and parts can get broken, leading to expensive repairs. When it comes to garage door maintenance, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.
At Gold Label Door, we’ve got experienced technicians who can tackle any garage door repair. Schedule an appointment with us today and we’ll be happy to service your garage door.
