4 Routine Maintenance Tips to Extend the Life of Your Garage Door

Your garage door system, like your HVAC system, is something you don’t spend much time thinking about until it stops working. However, fixing it quickly and affordably rises to the top of your to-do list when it malfunctions.

By some estimates, garage doors can last for more than two decades with proper maintenance. In this article, we’ll cover a few easy ways homeowners can extend the life of their garage door and avoid significant problems.

Use Your Eyes and Ears

The best way to prevent expensive repairs is by identifying problems early. This mantra applies to nearly every piece of mechanical equipment, and it also rings true for garage door systems.

Each time you have an opportunity to consciously observe how your door is working (when you’re late for work and rushing out the door might not be the best time), listen for abnormal noises or any type of asymmetry in the springs, pulleys, or cables.

If you’re not a garage door expert, you probably won’t know what’s causing the issue, but you should be able to recognize that “something isn’t right here.” When you need a second opinion, give us a call, and we’ll help you take care of it.

Tighten Up

The actual number varies from home to home, but it’s safe to say that your garage door will go up and down thousands of times each year. All this movement and vibration can lead to hardware loosening over time.

Open and close your garage door a couple of times and listen for rattling sounds along your roller bracket and bolts. If you notice anything that seems out of the ordinary, use a socket wrench and tighten the bolts until there’s no longer a noticeable vibration sound coming from the area.

Replace Parts When Necessary

It’s much cheaper to replace your garage door’s parts than it is to invest in an entirely new system. If you know what to look for, you can inspect the areas in question and order new components if necessary.

Bushelman Supply has a team of experts who can give you an honest assessment of your current situation if you’d rather leave the job to a trained professional. Throughout February, we’re also giving customers $25 OFF all garage door residential service calls. (Check out our annual sale calendar here.)

All parts of your garage door receive some degree of wear and tear over time, but the two places to focus on are your rollers and weatherstrip. First, let’s focus on the rollers. Most manufacturers recommend inspecting your rollers every six months to identify any signs of cracking, chipping, or significant wear. New rollers are needed roughly every 6-7 years, but this estimate may vary.

The other component of your garage door that you should inspect yearly is your weatherstrip. If you’re unfamiliar, the weatherstrip is the rubber seal on the bottom of your door that is in contact with the ground when the door shuts. While a damaged weatherstrip won’t cause major problems with your door’s overall functionality, it serves an essential role in insulating your home. Don’t fall victim to higher bills when this easy and inexpensive fix could be the culprit behind your increased energy use.

Clear the Tracks

Keeping your door’s tracks clear of debris is crucial for smooth opening and closing. This task is one of the easiest and quickest self-inspections that even the most novice DIYers can accomplish. If you spot anything in the tracks, remove it, and you’re likely good to go. If you notice that the tracks are no longer level, contact us, and we’ll come set things back into place.

Your Experts in Garage Door Installation, Repair, and Support

When it comes to extending the life of your garage door, Bushelman has the products and installation expertise to keep yours functioning for decades. And when it eventually comes time for a replacement, we’ll be able to help with that, too. Throughout February, take $25 OFF any residential service call regarding your garage door and get peace of mind knowing your system is in good shape.

Whether you’re in the market for a new door, in the process of building, need a new operator, or require repair to your current garage door, get in touch with a member of our team today.