How to Keep Your Garage Door Running Smoothly: 8 Tips for Longevity

Maintaining your garage door in top condition is crucial for convenience and safety for homeowners in St. Augustine and Jacksonville, FL. Wear and tear can lead to problems over time, but regular care can prevent breakdowns and expensive fixes. At Door Master Clinic, we've compiled these 8 easy tips to help you take care of your garage door and make it last longer.

1. Check Your Door Often

You can avoid bigger issues when you inspect your garage door twice a year. Give everything a once-over, from the panels and tracks to the hardware and weatherstripping. Watch out for cracks, rust, or junk, and check that cables, rollers, and hardware are all in good nick. Regular checks let you fix minor problems before they turn into expensive repairs.

2. Grease Up Moving Parts

When you keep your garage door's moving parts greased, you can stop them from wearing out. A silicone-based lube or lithium grease does the trick for rollers, hinges, and tracks. A bit of grease goes far to ensure your door runs quiet, smooth, and lasts longer.

3. Look at and Switch Out Weatherstripping

The weatherstripping at the bottom of your garage door helps block drafts, moisture, and pests. This rubber seal can crack or peel as time goes by; if you notice signs of wear, put in a new one to keep your garage sealed and save energy.

4. Secure the Hardware

As your door moves up and down, screws and bolts tend to get loose. Take a look at your garage door's hardware often and tighten any parts that have come loose. This simple job helps your door stay stable and safe.

5. Try Out the Garage Door Opener

The safety features of your garage door opener play a key role. Test the auto-reverse function by putting an item in the door's way—it should stop and go back up when it hits the object. If this doesn't happen, you need to get a pro to look at it. Also, ensure your opener works right when the power goes out if you have a backup battery.

6. Keep Tracks Clean

Gunk and junk can pile up in the tracks, which makes your door harder to open and close. Use a brush or vacuum to clean the tracks often, but don't use strong chemicals that might harm them.

7. Inspect and Replace Rollers