Prevent Costly Repairs: DIY Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Preventing costly repairs for garage doors can sometimes be achieved using DIY maintenance. Taking action like lubricating moving garage door parts and inspecting garage door openers for proper operation may reduce repair costs and avoid malfunctions in the future. You are encouraged to seek professional help from a garage door expert if you don’t have the proper knowledge and training to maintain a garage door.

The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance

Garage door maintenance is important for functionality and operation, but it’s also important for safety. While having the ability to open and close your garage door is a matter of convenience, a broken garage door has the potential to cause property damage and injuries.

Regular Maintenance Helps Avoid Costly Repairs

Forgoing garage door maintenance can lead to costly repairs. According to Forbes, garage door repair can cost over $1,000 depending on the type of garage door you have. Regular maintenance, on the other hand, maybe less expensive, and you can handle many maintenance tasks yourself.

Monthly Maintenance Checklist

It’s often recommended that garage door maintenance be performed monthly. When putting together a monthly garage door maintenance plan, it helps to have a checklist of items that you go through each time you perform maintenance.

Visual Inspection (Check For Damages, Loose Parts, Etc.)

The first thing to do when performing maintenance on a garage door is to visually inspect it for damage or loose parts.

Lubricate Moving Parts (Hinges, Rollers, Pulleys)

Next, use a garage door lubricant that contains white lithium grease to lubricate springs and other metals parts. Avoid using WD-40 on most garage door components as WD-40 is a solvent degreaser product despite having some lubricating properties.

Test The Safety Sensors And Auto-Reverse Mechanism

You should then test safety sensors and mechanisms to ensure proper operation. Safety sensors that don’t work should be repaired or replaced.

Check The Condition Of Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping helps to insulate your garage and keep out moisture. Check the condition of your garage door’s weatherstripping and make replacements when necessary.

Quarterly Maintenance Tasks

In addition to a monthly maintenance plan, there are some larger tasks that should be completed once every quarter.

Clean The Tracks And Tighten Any Loose Hardware

During quarterly garage door maintenance, clean your tracks and check the tightness of screws and bolts.

Inspect And Adjust The Tension On The Torsion Springs (Or Extension Springs)

You can also use quarterly maintenance to check the tension on your torsion or extension springs. If they are loose, tighten them to the appropriate tension according to your manufacturer’s instructions. You should consult a professional if you are at all unsure of how to do this safely.

Check The Condition Of The Cables And Pulleys

Quarterly maintenance is also a time to check the condition of cables and pulleys and replace them if necessary.

Annual Maintenance

Although many DIY garage door maintenance tasks can be performed monthly and quarterly, some larger tasks should be undertaken once per year.

Lubricate The Opener’s Drive Chain Or Screw

Once annually, lubricate the opener’s chain. You should not use WD-40 as a lubricant for springs and other parts of your garage door, but spraying products containing white lithium grease on your garage door chain can help.

Check The Balance Of The Door And Make Necessary Adjustments

You should also check the balance of your garage door once per year. If you notice one part of your garage door is pushing or pulling, take steps to rebalance the door to avoid garage door failure.

Inspect The Condition Of The Opener’s Backup Battery (If Applicable)

If you have a garage door opener that uses a backup battery, inspect this battery annually and replace it if necessary.

Safety Precautions

When undertaking any type of DIY garage door maintenance, safety should be your top priority.

Importance Of Following Safety Guidelines

Garage doors are heavy, and if an accident occurs, these doors can cause serious injuries. Springs and other moving parts on garage doors can also cause injuries if a pressure differential occurs and a cable or pulley snaps.

Repairs On Torsion Springs Should Be Done By A Professional

Because of the risks involved, all repairs to garage door springs should be completed by a professional. You should be fine applying a little bit of lubricant to your springs during regular maintenance, but repairs and replacements for garage doors springs are better left to trained garage door service technicians.

Safely Using Ladders And Tools

If you use ladders around your garage door, make sure you have secured the feet of your ladder before climbing it. You’re also encouraged to have at least one other person with you while you are on a ladder in the event of a fall.

Cost Savings

DIY garage door maintenance can save on future repair bills, but it can also be less costly compared to hiring a professional to perform regular maintenance.

Potential Cost Savings Of Diy Maintenance Vs. Professional Service

According to New York Gates, a garage door tune-up can cost nearly $300, but the cost of purchasing DIY maintenance supplies like white lithium grease can be substantially less.

Regular Maintenance Can Extend The Lifespan Of The Garage Door System

Over the service life of your garage door, regular maintenance can save money on repairs as well as replacements. According to This Old House, a well-maintained modern garage door can last up to 50 years.

Conclusion

By taking some time to perform garage door maintenance on a scheduled basis, you can extend the service life of your garage door and consistently enjoy the convenience it offers. Additionally garage door maintenance can improve safety and reduce the need for future repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about DIY garage door maintenance:

How Do I Maintain My Garage Door?

You can maintain your garage door by making a maintenance plan and regularly inspecting your door for wear and damage. You can also lubricate moving parts and tighten springs as needed.

Should I Use WD 40 On My Garage Door?

You should not use WD-40 on a garage door since WD-40 is a solvent degreaser and not a dedicated lubricant.

What Should I Use To Lubricate My Garage Door?

You should use lubricants that contain white lithium grease to lubricate most garage door components.

How Can I Extend The Life Of My Garage Door?

You can extend the life of your garage door by performing regular maintenance and using your door according to your manufacturer’s instructions.

How Do I Maintain My Garage Door

You can maintain your garage door by visually inspecting it for damage and wear on a regular basis and performing maintenance on your door according to your manufacturer’s instructions.

What Should I Use To Lubricate My Garage Door

You should use white lithium grease to lubricate most moving parts like springs on a garage door. Some rollers may benefit from silicone-based lubricants instead.

Should You Use WD 40 On Garage Door

WD-40 is a solvent that has lubricating properties, but it should not be used on a garage door as a lubricant.

What Is The Right Thing To Clean A Garage Door With

Most garage doors can be cleaned using a little bit of dish soap or car wash solution mixed with water and applied with a sponge.

Do Garage Doors Need To Be Oiled

Garage doors don’t need to be oiled in the traditional sense, but you should apply white lithium grease lubricant on a schedule recommended by your garage door manufacturer or installer.

What Is Garage Door Lube Made Of

Most garage door lube is made from white lithium grease.

Should You Lubricate Garage Door Cables

You should lightly lubricate garage door cables according to your manufacturer’s instructions, but using too much lubricant can cause cables to become too viscous.

Should You Lubricate A Garage Door Chain

Yes. Spraying some products that contain white lithium grease on your garage door chain can be beneficial.

Should You Lubricate Your Garage Door Spring

You should lubricate garage door springs using white lithium grease products designed for garage doors.

How Do I Keep My Garage Door Safe

You can keep your garage door safe by operating it in a manner consistent with your manufacturer’s instructions.

How Often Should Garage Doors Be Serviced

You should service garage doors once per month for smaller tasks, once per quarter for medium tasks and once per year for large tasks.

How To Tune-Up Garage Door

You can tune up a garage door by checking springs and having them tightened as needed, inspecting and tightening bolts and screws, and lubricating moving parts.

 

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