The Important Steps You're Forgetting To Maintain On Your Garage Door

Garage doors are integral parts of modern life for many homeowners; in fact, it's estimated that over half of all homeowners use their garage as the main entrance to their home. Even though you might take yours for granted, garage doors are expensive features of your residency, making maintenance and good stewardship the best ways to protect your investment (keep in mind that if you don't, you could be looking at anywhere from $2,700 to over $6,000 to replace a garage door). So what steps should you be taking to maintain your garage door throughout the year?

Basic maintenance of your garage door should start with a general observation of your door's everyday operation and condition. Notice any new noises? Banging, thumping, squeaking, or grinding are all indicators that your door is struggling to perform as usual. You might also notice that the motion of your garage door isn't what it once was — garage doors that need some extra attention might struggle to open smoothly or at the correct speed. Even if your garage door isn't giving you any signs of challenges, don't get complacent; you'll still want to stay on top of keeping the components of your door clean and well-lubricated, as this will extend its healthy operations.

Although many homeowners will opt to skip it, garage doors should technically be serviced once a year. During this time, a technician will come out and check all of the components of the door to ensure that they are in good operating condition. While you might not want to spend the money to have a seemingly well-functioning garage door checked, you should view it as preventative care that can alert you to issues before they get worse. In addition to this annual maintenance check, it's recommended that you clean and lubricate your garage door twice annually.

Clean your garage door tracks with a damp cloth (microfiber works well) to remove any dirt or debris that will have built up. You'll next want to use a specially formulated garage door lubricant, like 3-In-One ($7.98 from Walmart), to spray down any moving part of the garage door, including hinges, rollers, and tracks. Avoid using WD-40, which can actually cause more debris to accumulate, making it harder for your garage door to operate. Remember to wear appropriate eye and breathing protection, as well as to thoroughly air out the garage to prevent any dangerous fumes from building up. 

While you have your ladder out, now's also an ideal time to replace any burnt-out light bulbs in the motor carriage. As a final step, you can inspect the seal on the bottom of your garage door and repair or replace it, if need be, to help keep dirt, debris, and water from entering the garage. While these steps might seem extraneous, they can keep your garage door operating well for years to come.