HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR GARAGE DOOR

Homeownership is the ultimate goal of many Americans, as well as everyone around the world. Buying a home is usually the single largest purchase the average person will make in their lifetime. Being a homeowner is a great way to increase your net worth, and can help cement a positive financial outlook for your future. However, your work doesn’t stop once you’ve signed the purchase agreement. In fact, that is where the work begins. Not only will you have to make payments on your home, but you will need to do your part to maintain the property, and in some cases, you will need to make upgrades to aspects of your property to keep them in line with aesthetic changes or modern technological advances. Instead of waiting for issues with your home to get to the point of no return, it is often better to address what may seem like “small” issues. That way, you can fix any issues for a lower cost.

Homeowners often budget for their “regular” home costs (mortgage, property tax, insurance), but they fail to earmark funds for property maintenance. Experts have found that setting aside 1-3% of your home value, per year, as “maintenance costs” is generally a good idea. So, if your home costs $300,000, you should be budgeting $3,000 – $9,000 per year for maintenance costs. That is quite a large sum. Some years you may find you don’t use this money, while other years you may exceed this amount. While homeowners tend to focus on the large items that may require repair (roof, hot water tank, plumbing, electric), there are other aspects of your home that can cause quite the inconvenience if they are not working correctly. One such item is your garage door. The garage door opener is the “everyday workhorse” of your home. You use the opener multiple times per day, and it brings added convenience into your life. Most people really don’t give a second thought to their opener until something goes wrong. This may lead to costly repair or replacement services. If you apply the right maintenance strategies, you can get extended use out of your garage door and opener, and you can avoid costly repairs. If you’d like more details on strategies you can employ to extend the life of your garage door, keep reading for some easy tips.

Keep your ears open (Listen!)

This one may seem very straightforward and basic, and that’s because it is. You don’t have to be an expert to identify a strange sound. You use your garage door daily, so you know how it usually sounds. A weird noise can point to a potentially larger issue. Think about it. Your garage door works using a mechanical mechanism. If your car were to start making noises while you were driving, you would take it to be looked at. The same applies to your garage door. If you hear a grinding noise when you operate your door, this may point to an issue with your garage door motor. If you hear a clanking noise when the door opens, this may point to an issue with your garage door springs. Garage door spring issues can be very serious, and need to be looked at immediately.

Do a visual inspection

This is another one that you do not need to be an expert to complete. Every so often (perhaps once or twice per year), do a visual inspection of your garage door system. Here are some steps you can follow. First, stand inside your garage with the door closed. Check around the seams. Are there visible gaps? Is light coming in? If you find these issues your door may not be properly aligned. Now you will want to take a door at all the garage door components (springs, wheels, tracks etc). Are your springs tight, or do they look loose and lacking in tension? Is there rust on the wheels, or do the wheels look worn out? Are the tracks dirty and filled with debris? These are things you will want to be on the lookout for. Especially with your garage door springs, as signs of aging can lead to potential bigger issues. If you do notice issues, it may be time to call a qualified garage door technician to get the issues repaired.

Clean and lubricate garage door tracks, rollers and hinges

This step is a little more hands on. The tracks of your garage door can become filled with debris (leaves and grass, dust, cobwebs). Just like you wouldn’t leave debris to build up in the corners of your home, the same goes for your garage door tracks. Simply grab a broom, and brush the debris out of the tracks (no fancy tools needed). When lubricating your tracks, rollers and hinges, do not use water or other chemical products. These type of products may cause build up and may do additional harm. Instead, you will want to get a good spray silicon lubricant. Your garage door manufacturer should have a list of products they recommend. You can utilize this maintenance tip seasonally for maximum effectiveness.

Check the balance of your garage door

This is probably the most “technical” tip on this list. You will need to disconnect your automatic opener. You will now manually open the door. The door should open easily. Once open, the door should remain open and not slip down the tracks. Next, you will close the door. The door should start to close with the application of a little pressure. Once it starts closing, it should not slam down. This will show that your door is balanced, and that the springs are doing their job correctly. This is a quick way to assess that your garage door is properly balanced.

These tips should help to extend the operating life of your garage door. If you run into any issues, it is best to call a qualified technician. If you are in Commerce City, CO, then place a call to the experts at Garage Door Repair Commerce City.

 

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