If you think about it, cars and garage doors aren’t all that different. They’re both made up of intricate mechanical systems—heck, they both even have engines! And the way you treat both of them and how much effort you put into maintenance plays a key role in whether you’ll have problems down the road or whether it’ll be smooth sailing.
To help you extend the life of your garage door, Precision Door’s technicians have put together a list of the best things you can do to get the longest, most trouble-free run out of your garage door system. Check them out below.
Tip #1: Operate the Garage Door with Care
You don’t blow through stop signs, slam on the breaks just because, or pass cars when its unsafe to do so when you’re driving (at least, we hope you don’t!). You shouldn’t be reckless with the way you operate your garage door either.
If you have kids, make sure that they know to ask you for help when they want to use the door or know how to use it with caution and care.
Tip #2: Keep an Eye on Performance
Our second tip is akin to hearing a strange noise in your car but instead of getting help right away, you wait. Now the strange noise is a symphony of sounds and your maintenance bill is through the roof.
Within garage door systems, damages escalate with time and starts to put a strain on other parts. You never want to ignore when your garage door’s performance starts to suffer. By acting quickly, you can significantly reduce the chances that more repairs will be required.
Tip #3: Keep the System Clean
Because your garage door acts as the passageway between the inside of your home and the great outdoors, nature tends to make its way in.
By keeping your garage door system’s tracks free from debris and paying special attention that the safety sensors are free of dirt, nests, or spider webs, you can side step future issues.
Tip #4: Check Your Garage Door’s Balance at Least Once a Year
An out-of-balance garage door tends to close at an accelerated rate, posing a safety risk for those who use the door while also putting extra strain on the system’s other parts. To avoid operating an unbalanced door, you should check it at least once every 12 months.
To check the balance, do the following:
- Close the garage door and disconnect it from the opener.
- Raise the door manually to about 2 feet above the ground.
- Step back and stand clear to observe what the door does.
- If the door doesn’t move, it’s balanced properly.
- If the door does move, it’s out of balance. Seek professional assistance ASAP.
For more information, check out our article on the top four signs that your garage door is unbalanced.
Tip #5: Have Safety and Maintenance Inspections Performed Annually
Modern garage door manufacturers recommend that doors be maintained and inspected by a professional technician on an annual basis. By signing up for yearly maintenance with a trusted local garage door provider like Precision Door’s Precision Care Maintenance Plan, you can be confident that your door will reach and well exceed its peak life expectancy. And you can likely cross off multiple tips on your garage door to-do list (numbers 3 and 4) by leaving these things up to the professionals.
Check out everything that the Precision Care Maintenance Plan includes and, as always, feel free to get in touch with a Precision Door garage door specialist with any questions!
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