Garage doors are installed in most homes for a good reason—home security and safety, mostly. Leaving it unchecked and unmaintained can devoid it of its very purpose and benefits.
Most homeowners, however, tend to overlook it. Even the importance of regular maintenance—
how regular tune-ups keep their families safe and secured, extend the door’s lifespan, as well as maintain and improve the home’s curb appeal.
If you are one of these homeowners, let us convince you why you should take care of your garage door, just like the other parts of your house. Let’s start!
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Three Reasons Why Regular Garage Door Maintenance is Crucial
There are several reasons why you should regularly maintain your garage door. Security and safety, avoiding costly and unexpected repairs, and maintaining visual appearance.
Here is why you should be maintaining your garage door:
Security and Safety
Unchecked and unmaintained garage doors often malfunction. The problem is that these types of doors are heavy and hard, making them susceptible to problems that can jeopardize your family’s safety.
For example, malfunctioning springs may break and cause the door to collapse and fall. Misaligned parts such as the tracks may cause entrapment, too. Aside from that, faulty and uncleaned photo eye sensors will fail to detect objects and people, which can result in accidents.
In terms of safety, faulty and unmaintained garage doors are also more susceptible to break-ins. Regular maintenance ensures that the door’s system is working properly.
Improved Curb Appeal
Though it may not look as new as it was first installed, regular maintenance can help keep your garage door looking new. Regular garage door maintenance can prevent rust and rot from developing.
Old garage doors typically develop rust (for ones with steel as the material) and rot (for wooden garage doors) that are unpleasant to look at and can negatively affect your house’s curb appeal.
Avoid Costly, Unexpected Repairs
Unexpected repairs that cost a lot can be troublesome especially if you have no budget allotted to emergencies. If you want to save yourself from a headache, you should consider routine garage door maintenance.
Unchecked and overlooked small garage door problems get worse as time passes by. And, oftentimes, it results in bigger and more expensive repairs. Worse still, these tiny issues may lead to the door’s early deterioration.
A misaligned garage door roller, for instance, can put a lot of strain on the door opener which, if not fixed, can shorten its lifespan. So, if you are thinking you are saving money by applying temporary fixes to your garage doors, think again!
You would not like the inconvenience unexpected repairs can cause, too.
How Often Should You Maintain Garage Doors?
In general, garage doors should be serviced and maintained at least once a year. Regular maintenance is a preventative measure that keeps potential issues at bay. Without it, your garage door may experience a few problems months or a year later. Although it still depends on the garage door’s overall quality.
You should consider monthly garage door maintenance, too. It is especially crucial if you opt for a budget-friendly not-so-good quality garage door. As mentioned, regular maintenance keeps potential issues at bay.
Scheduled Maintenance Tips You Can Follow
Monthly checkups.
For not-so-new garage doors, monthly checkups may be needed. The routine includes maintenance such as lubricating parts, tightening of screws and bolts, and clearing tracks from debris and dust.
It may also include a door balance test and visual assessment. The latter will have your garage door’s rollers, springs, and pulleys, as well as tears and wear-in cables. The former, on the one hand, involves manually lifting the door after disconnecting the opener.
Bi-annual checkup.
Bi-annual checkups and maintenance offer the same routine as monthly checkups do. The only addition is that it comes with a Reversal Test.
Garage doors come with a safety feature system that automatically puts the door in reverse when in contact with an object. The test, then, involves placing an object in the door’s path. If the door automatically reverses, then the system is all good.
Yearly checkups.
Aside from all the tests and maintenance work included in monthly and bi-annual checkups, annual assessment and maintenance require a specialist or a professional garage door technician. The technician will help you identify hard-to-identify issues that you may have overlooked.
Annual maintenance may include the replacement of weatherstrip, too.
From extending its lifespan to ensuring your family’s safety and security, regular maintenance for garage doors is indeed crucial. Get the best garage door repair in Oklahoma to help in assisting with routine repairs and maintenance—be it monthly, bi-annual, or yearly.
Keep in mind that a well-maintained garage door is not only an entryway. So, invest in getting your garage door serviced, as it will over time repay you with years of reliable service.
