We all understand the feeling when your garage door isn’t functioning the way it should. However, it is expensive, dangerous, and disruptive to your daily routine. That is why preventative garage door maintenance is all the more important to extend its lifespan and keep it functioning well at all times, especially when it’s equivalent to the entry point to your home for your car. This article discusses four maintenance tips that every homeowner should know to make sure everything is in working order.
Weatherstripping Replacement
If you live in an environment with unpredictable weather, replacing the weatherstripping is integral to elongating the lifespan of your garage door. This material (usually made of PVC) is responsible for sealing off the water, cold air during the weather, and hot air during the summer. However, due to wear and tear over time in conjunction with exposure to the elements, this material can peel, crack, and wrap, letting in pests and water from the rain and causing a temperature shift.
Therefore, once you realize any problems with your weatherstripping material, it should be replaced as soon as possible. Depending on the type of garage door you have, the weatherstripping can either be nailed or slid along the groove of the door.
Door Panels Inspection
The panels are one of the most important parts of your garage door system. Therefore, it is also wise to inspect the condition of the door. Depending on the type of material your garage door system is made of, it will determine the approach you need to care for the condition.
For instance, if you have a steel garage door installation, you will have to look out for any rust spots to sand them off, prime, and paint over them. For wood, you will have to scrape and sand away any damaged areas and then repaint them.
On the other hand, you can use a cleaning soplution to wash the surface of the fiberglass. However, these methods are unlikely to be effective if the damage is too severe. In this case, you should consider having a professional replace the door panel.
Fix Loose Hardware
Fixing any loose hardware is critical to ensuring your garage doors’ structural integrity and stability. On average, the garage door could be used for a cycle of up to 1,500 times during a year. When the door opens and closes repeatedly, this can cause vibration leading to the hardware such as the screws, bolts, springs, chain screws, and brackets to come off loose. Therefore, it is important to occasionally inspect your garage door systems to see if there might be any unsecured hardware. This would also be an opportune time to tighten up loose screws, bolts, and nuts.
Replace Your Garage Door Rollers
Similar to the loosening of hardware caused by wear and tear, rollers could also be damaged over time. Therefore, when conducting your bi-annual maintenance and inspection, check to see if there might be any cracking, chipping, or warping. Once you have discovered any damage, call your local garage door maintenance professionals, and do not try to attempt the repair yourself. As the rollers are connected to the lifting cables, they are under high tension, and you can risk sustaining severe injury.
Why Choose New England Overhead Door?
New England Overhead Door has been operating for over six decades, and our service technicians are highly skilled, competent, and experienced in solving all types of garage door-related issues. We are equipped with the tools to deliver high-quality repair work, and we are always available and accessible 24/7 to assist you with any difficulties and issues you might face with your garage. In addition, our company has always aimed to be transparent with our customers – that is why we are upfront about the repair costs.
If you want to learn more about the garage door repair and replacement services we offer, please feel free to contact us at 800-696-7723 or use our service request form.