Garage doors today are built to last 15 to 20 years. If you want to maximize the use of your door, you need to give it periodic maintenance, to ensure that you catch problems early on. Most of the time, maintenance doesn’t require you to call a professional. Here are some ways in which you can maintain your unit during the summer months when it can get hot in the garage.
1. Check the hardware for wear and tear
It is important to check for signs of wear and tear, bent or broken hinges, rusty rollers, rusty springs and other hardware that needs to be tightened. You should also check that the lifting cables are operating properly. Regardless of age, it should open and close smoothly. If yours doesn’t, the springs may need adjustment. However, some parts of your door are best left for professionals. These parts are the brackets found at the bottom, the pulleys and cables. They are under a lot of tension so trying to repair them yourself could lead to injury. Pulleys have ball bearings that can get worn and cause problems. Cables can become frayed and require replacement.
2. Clean and lubricate the hardware
Inspect all the parts of the door. The hardware should be free from debris or build-up caused by lack of proper lubrication. If you find that there is dirt in these areas, use an old toothbrush to remove the dirt build-up and lubricate the door as necessary. All the parts of the door should be well-lubricated in order to prevent it from being a noisy door. It is best to use a grease based lubricant such as a lithium or silicone spray. These are specifically used for this purpose and are recommended over the tried and true WD-40.
3. Remove seasonal grime from doors and windows
Dirt from the changing seasons could lead to problems with your door; using a mild detergent and washcloth, gently lift away the grime and dirt from the door’s windows and doors, in order to prevent it from corroding. If the door requires new paint, be vigilant as this helps prevent rust and corrosion. Once corrosion or rust settle in you will need to do repairs or have a service provider make repairs. If the problem cannot be fixed you may have to replace parts affected.
4. Remove rust
If you can see visual signs of flaking or rusting on any part of your unit, it’s time to do some work. Using sandpaper, take away the rust and then apply a coat of primer that is rich in zinc. After this, apply a coat of exterior latex to prevent further rusting. Using these steps, you should be able to get the most use out of your garage’s door unit and will let you enjoy your unit for decades to come.
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