Many homeowners don’t realize that they need to take care of their garage door.
In the United States, more than 63 percent of all occupied homes have a carport or garage according to a 2015 statistic released by the American Housing Survey.
Over half of all garage doors in housing units are older than five years. With so many garage doors out there and models getting older every day, it’s important to know how to make sure yours is in good condition.
Check out this extensive guide to learn everything you need to know about proper garage door maintenance.
Read on to learn more.
Remember to Test Out the Reverse Feature
To get ahead of potential garage door problems, remember to test out the reverse feature. By doing this, you can better test the overall performance of the garage door.
Not only does this feature help the general maintenance of your garage door, but it is also an essential safety feature and the federal requirement for any garage door manufactured after January 1, 1993.
There are two main types of safety reverse systems available:
- Mechanical
- Photoelectric
A mechanical safety reverse system is designed to reverse directions upon coming into contact with a foreign object on the garage floor.
A photoelectric safety reverse system utilizes infrared sensors to create a state-of-the-art motion detection technology. If the photoelectric safety reverse system is operational, you should see a green light on each respective sensor.
For more information on professional garage door installation, check out this resource to understand the cost and the process experts in the field can provide.
Don’t Forget to Lubricate and Clean Your Garage Door
For those looking for the best DIY garage door repair, don’t forget to lubricate and clean your garage door regularly. Be sure to clean the garage door track of any debris, such as:
- Oil
- Grease
- Dirt
- Leaves
Apply a lightweight oil lubricant to the pivot points and rollers on the hinges. Don’t forget to wipe away excess oil. Consider tightening loose hinges, locks, and struts every year.
Consider the Garage Door Balance
For the top garage door maintenance, consider the garage door balance. Make sure the garage door completely closes. Look for any cracks in, under, or above the garage door.
To avoid unnecessary garage door costs, try to visually inspect your garage door periodically.
Consider engaging the release mechanism so you can manually control the garage door. Done correctly, there should be little to no resistance when you try to lift the garage door by hand.
Proper Garage Door Maintenance
Garage door problems can be costly to fix. Avoid unnecessary costs to your wallet and provide proper garage door maintenance to keep it in the best condition possible.
What are you waiting for? Your garage door awaits!
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