Garage doors are the most complicated and impactful part of your home, but they’re also one of the most overlooked. Garage doors tend to receive less care than other parts of your house.
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to garage door repairs or maintenance; if you tend toward clumsiness, maybe it’s best for you to take a hands-off approach.
Here are 5 things everyone should know about their garage door before attempting any kind of do-it-yourself project:
1. A garage door is a big investment
Garage doors can be quite expensive, especially when you factor in maintenance costs. If you get your door serviced every single year, the repair costs should be minimal. Look for a service provider that offers guarantees on their workmanship and parts.
Garage doors are divided into parts even if they look like one solid unit when closed: there is the header, center rail, bottom panel, rollers, and roller brackets on which the door rolls up and down on. These can easily break down if not maintained properly. Keep them lubricated on a regular basis to reduce friction between moving parts, so no repairs are needed in the future. Also, clean them regularly with a gentle soap or detergent solution to remove any dirt or gunk that could damage these elements over time.
2. Safety should be a priority
A garage door spring is powerful enough to squish any living creature that gets caught in it. There’s always the danger of children playing with these springs and getting hurt, so consider putting guards up and taking other safety precautions.
When open, a garage door can easily crush anything or anyone underneath, so check for overhead clearance before closing the door all the way down. The sensors built into modern models will prevent accidents if your gate sticks while opening or closing but be mindful of this safety feature when working on repair projects yourself.
3. Pay attention to your doors problems
Get to know the warning signs that your garage door needs attention before it gets worse. If there’s a problem with one of its components, you’ll start noticing certain patterns in movement and sound.
Make sure that all rollers are tight and there is no wobbling at any point when opening and closing the door. Any unevenness will make the door bounce as it moves up and down, causing damage over time due to friction between moving parts. Also, check for any rust or corrosion; if left untreated, this could break the entire system down.
4. Don’t try to fix the problem on your own
While some garage door problems are easy to fix, don’t try to solve everything by yourself. There are cases where it’s best to call in a professional due to the safety risks involved or because you’re not knowledgeable enough about the inner workings of these mechanisms.
5. The more maintenance, the better
As with any other machine, the more you take care of your garage door, the better. The investment you make in repair costs upfront will save in maintenance in the long run.
Keep it lubricated and clean for longer use. If something breaks down, get it back in working condition quickly to avoid greater problems in months to come. There’s nothing worse than getting into your car on a cold winter night only to find that your garage door is jammed or broken. Be proactive when it comes to taking care of your biggest mechanical asset!