A properly maintained garage door provides smooth operation, has a longer life, and avoids high repair costs. Most homeowners take their garage door maintenance for granted until something goes wrong. This can result in costly repairs or even a total replacement.
By practicing a few basic steps regularly, you can keep your garage door in great condition and avoid unexpected breakdowns. Here’s what you need to know to keep your garage door as shipshape as possible.
If everything seems a bit too much for you, our team at Rock Garage can help you by doing routine maintenance, repairs, or even with a new garage door installation.
1. Inspect and Lubricate Moving Parts
A garage door consists of many moving parts that need regular attention. The combination of rollers, hinges, and tracks allows for smooth operation. With time, friction, dirt, and general wear can destroy these parts.
Why Regular Inspection is Crucial
Without regular checks, a small thing, such as slight rust or slight misalignment, can become a major issue. Homeowners should check moving components at least once monthly to detect early signs of damage. Regular maintenance can prolong the life of your garage door and ensure it remains safe to operate.
Step-by-Step Guide to Inspecting Your Garage Door Components
- Step 1: Rollers and Hinges: Inspect the rollers for any cracks or chips. If they appear worn, replace them right away. Hinges should operate smoothly and without friction. If they appear dry, apply some lubricant.
- Step 2: Garage Door Track Maintenance: Check for dents, misalignment, or debris on the tracks. Wipe them down with a damp cloth and level them to make sure they’re straight. A misaligned track can cause the door to jerk or jam.
- Step 3: Lubrication Best Practices: Use a high-quality, silicone-based lubricant to the rollers, hinges, and springs. Steer away from grease as it can attract more black dirt into the pipeline, leading to a blockade.
- Step 4: Check for Loose Bolts and Screws: The vibrations created from a garage door opening and closing over time can shake bolts loose. Tighten any loose hardware with a wrench.
Regular lubrication and inspections help minimize wear and tear and reduce the chance of sudden breakdowns. If you aren’t sure which lubricants or techniques are best, Rock Garage provides professional maintenance services that will keep everything running smoothly.
2. Test and Maintain the Garage Door Opener
Having a properly functioning garage door opener is important for the convenience and security of your home. Proper garage door opener maintenance ensures that the entire system works properly and safely.
Common Garage Door Opener Issues
- Remote Not Responding: If your remote no longer works to open the door, check your batteries first. If not, reprogram the remote if the issue persists.
- Slow or Jerky Movement: This could indicate an underlying mechanical problem, such as worn gears or misaligned sensors.
- Unusual Noises: Grinding or squeaking sounds mean that something needs to be lubricated or repaired.
- Door Reverses Unexpectedly: Is your garage door reversing before touching the ground? That might be due to misaligned sensors or improper force settings.
How to Maintain Your Garage Door Opener
Here’s what you need to know when it comes to garage door maintenance.
- Auto-Reverse Mechanism Test: Put something like a wood block to stop the door. If the door doesn’t reverse upon contact, adjust the sensitivity settings. If that doesn’t work, call a technician.
- Check the Sensors: A safety sensor is a feature found in every garage door that should be wiped with a clean cloth and aligned properly.
- Battery and Remote Check: Change remote control batteries regularly. If your opener isn’t responsive or is erratic, it may be time to replace it.
- Inspect the Motor and Drive System: Belt, chain, and screw-drive openers need varying degrees of maintenance. Tighten loose connections and lubricate moving parts as necessary.
At Rock Garage, we diagnose opener issues and repair or replace them when needed.
3. Check and Adjust Garage Door Springs
Garage door spring maintenance is one of the most important aspects to make sure your door stays in good shape. The springs are intended to support the door and allow for easy raising and lowering.
Signs Your Garage Door Springs Need Attention
- Loud Banging Noises: If you hear a loud snap, it’s possible that a spring has broken.
- Difficulty Opening the Door: When the door feels too heavy to open, the springs might lose tension.
- Gaps in the Spring Coils: If you can see gaps between the coils, it’s time for a new set of springs.
- Door Closes Too Fast: A garage door that closes abruptly rather than gently might have an issue with a spring.
How to Perform a Balance Test
- Unplug the opener and try to lift the door by hand.
- Let go at the halfway point. If the door stays in place, the springs are balanced.
- If it drops or climbs, the springs require adjustment.
It can be dangerous to adjust or replace springs. Contact Rock Garage for professional service if you experience problems with your garage door.
4. Tighten Hardware and Inspect Cables
Every time a garage door opens and closes, it vibrates. This movement can cause bolts and brackets to be loosened over time.
Key Areas to Inspect
- Brackets and Rails: Use a wrench to tighten up any loose bolts.
- Cables: Examine them for fraying or rust. Damaged cables should be immediately replaced.
- Pulleys and Bearings: Worn components may require service by a professional.
Regular inspections help ensure that your garage door system does not fail suddenly. At Rock Garage, we provide complete inspections that get to the bottom of problems before they become major ones.
5. Keep the Tracks Clean and Aligned
If tracks are dirty or not aligned properly, the door may be obstructed or could get stuck.
Step-by-Step Guide to Track Maintenance
- Cleaning the Tracks: Wipe dust and debris away with a damp cloth
- Checking Alignment: Check the alignment of the tracks with a level. If it is misaligned, loosen the mounting brackets, adjust and retighten.
- Professional Alignment: If the door still doesn’t work properly, a professional alignment may be necessary.
At Rock Garage, we help make sure your garage door tracks are perfectly aligned and functioning properly.
6. Weatherproofing and Insulation Checks
Garage door weather seals and insulation help to avoid drafts, moisture, and energy loss.
How to Maintain Weatherproofing
- Inspect Seals: Look for cracks or wear on the bottom seal and side weatherstripping.
- Replacing Worn Seals: Removing old weatherstripping and replacing them with new ones can help with insulation.
- Choosing the Right Material: You can opt for a low-maintenance steel garage door, which is known to be durable and energy efficient as well.
At Rock Garage Door Repair, we can help you replace worn-out seals to ensure your garage remains comfortable all year.
Keep Your Garage Door in Top Shape with Rock Garage Today!
Performing regular garage door maintenance isn’t just meant to help you avoid costly LA garage door repairs. It’s about safety, reliability, and long-term performance. With a bit of maintenance, including lubricating moving parts, checking the opener, and inspecting springs, you can avoid unexpected breakdowns and keep your garage door running smoothly.
Rock Garage Door Repair specializes in expert maintenance and repairs to ensure that homeowners get the most out of their garage doors. From a routine tune-up to full-on professional repairs, we have you covered.
Contact us at Rock Garage Door Repair to set up a maintenance appointment today and rest assured knowing your garage door is in the hands of a professional.
