How to Tell If Your Garage Door Springs Need Replacing
Garage doors are often much heavier than they seem. With the exception of side-hinged garage
5 Essential Garage Door Maintenance Tips
There’s no reason why your garage doors shouldn’t last you for decades, so long as you look after them. The key is a regular maintenance schedule: not only does it keep your garage doors in good working order, it gives you the opportunity to spot potential problems early on, before they turn into something more serious.
In this article we will show you how to maintain your garage door using five simple tips:
Tighten up bolts regularly
If you stop to think how many times you open and close your garage door, it’s probably upwards of a thousand times a year. That much movement can easily loosen the bolts that hold key components to the wall. A few times a year, check your roller brackets, hinges, and other bolted components, and tighten them properly with a socket wrench.
Replace the weather stripping
Weather stripping is the rubber seal around the edge of your garage door. They keep the wind and rain out of your garage, preventing environmental damage to your car and other possessions. Being made of rubber, they can deteriorate over time. Look for signs of cracking or bubbling along its length and, if you spot it, take the time to replace it in its entirety.
Inspect the rollers and cables and replace them where necessary
Another key component of your garage door is the rollers and cables. These do the heavy work of lifting your garage doors and supporting the weight while they are open. You should make sure the rollers are properly aligned in their brackets and that there is no sign of bowing or sagging that might indicate they have been warped with use. Your counterweight cables should be tight and straight—any kinks or twists could lead to a jam in the mechanism. Always be careful with the cables, as they are tension-wound and sharp, and can cause a serious injury if they were to suddenly snap while handling them.
Lubrication
Whatever kind of garage door you own, it’s a mechanical device with moving parts, and those moving parts need to be thoroughly lubricated if they are to work with optimal efficiency. Take the time to give them a spray of WD-40 every couple of months to keep them operating smoothly.
Clean and paint
Perhaps the easiest way to keep your garage door in good working order is to clean it regularly. A monthly clean of the front panel and the runners helps prevent a build-up of dirt, dust, and grime. This can seriously affect your garage doors by restricting the opening mechanism or even corroding the main panels. If your garage doors are looking a little grubby even after cleaning, why not spruce them up with a coat of weatherproof paint?
Garage door repair tips: final thoughts
If, during your maintenance regime, you notice a problem with your garage doors, don’t try to fix them yourself. Garage doors are complicated and heavy items that often require an expert touch to repair safely. If in doubt, bring in the professionals – call Local Garage Door Repair Man today on 0203 816 0797 or 07983 433921 for essential garage door repair services across London and the South East. Alternatively, send an email to info@localgaragerepairman.co.uk to arrange a call-out, or to receive a free, no-obligation quote.
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