At-Home Garage Door Maintenance

As a homeowner with a garage door, you understand how this part of your house takes up almost half of the outside space of your abode. As such, your garage door is a big investment and is something that you’d like to keep in working order and prevent unnecessarily costly repairs. 

We always recommend contacting a licensed, experienced garage door repair technician for big issues, because these issues will compound and turn into much bigger ones if addressed incorrectly or not at all. However, there are some preventative maintenance measures you can take at home to help keep your garage door in proper working order and save you money on big projects. Here are four of the most common maintenance measures you can take at home right now. 

Keep Tracks and Rollers Lubricated

Keeping the moving parts of your garage door properly lubricated regularly can add a few years to its lifespan. Lubricating the parts will keep them moving the way they should and help to prevent them from corroding. Failing to do so can lead to major issues that would otherwise have been easily prevented. 

First, clean the tracks thoroughly and remove debris. Next, take a silicone-based lubricant and apply it inside the tracks and on the rollers. Once you’ve finished lubricating, be sure to wipe up any excess lubricant so it doesn’t prevent the door from opening.

Make Sure You Clean the Garage Door Tracks

This task is one of the easiest to do to prevent costly repairs. If left unattended, dirt and debris can accumulate on your tracks and rollers and prevent the door from opening and closing smoothly. Here are the steps to take to clean your tracks: 

  • Open your garage door completely. 
  • Use a damp cloth along with soap and water and apply to the lower part of the track. You might have to remove leaves or other debris or spray cleaner directly on the track itself. 
  • Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it dry with a separate clean cloth.
  • Close the door completely and repeat the same on the upper part of the garage door track. 

Test the Photo-Eye Sensors Regularly

This is one of the most important safety features of your garage door and should be tested regularly. To do so, open the door and place an object in front of the sensors and close your door. If your garage door doesn’t go back up automatically, it’s time to contact a repair specialist.

Check Auto-Reverse Feature

Just as the photo-eye sensor about once monthly, the auto-reverse function needs to be checked as well. If you perform the previous task and the door doesn’t reverse within two seconds of picking up the object in the pathway of the light sensor, contact a repair specialist immediately. If the auto-reverse feature isn’t functioning properly, your garage door can cause serious bodily harm or damage to property. 

Better to Be Safe Than Sorry

These four safety tips can help extend the life of your garage door and prevent the need for major repairs. However, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry. We recommend getting your door thoroughly checked every 6 to 12 months by a garage door specialist. We’d be happy to answer your questions about our check-up and maintenance plan. Give Garage Door in My Area a call today, or send a fast and easy inquiry right here on our website.