The first and most important part of garage door maintenance is inspecting all the separate and moving parts of the door. You should be looking for any damage, but also for signs of wear and tear that you can remedy before they become a bigger problem.

Checklist for inspection:

1. Door – look for any damage and listen for unusual sounds when opening. Check weatherstripping

2. Hardware – closely inspect the hinges, rollers, cables, and tracks to see if lubrication is needed or parts have to be replaced

3. Belt or chain – this is the heart and soul of your electric garage door. Tighten the chain, if there seems to be some slack, and lubricate using lithium grease (or a similar product)

Maintenance Servicing

After your careful inspection, it’s time to do the general yearly maintenance as part of your garage door upkeep.

1. Replace the batteries and bulbs in the main door unit. Replace batteries in all garage door remotes.

2. Add lubrication to any moving part that wasn’t greased during inspection

3. Check all safety features of the garage door. This includes all sensors and the auto reverse feature, if your door has it. It’s also important to check the balance of the door to prevent unnecessary accidents

Clean and Wash

It may seem obvious, but many people don’t wash their garage doors regularly. Grime and dirt can build up and even mildew will appear if you have bushes, grass, and sprinklers nearby. Even if you use a power washer on your house, it’s best to wash the garage door by hand because it is much thinner than the walls of a house and can easily be damaged. Soap and a soft scrubbing brush will work fine on any wooden door, then rinse gently with a hose. If your garage door is made of steel or fiberglass, use whatever cleaner is recommended.

Repaint or refinish

This certainly won’t be needed every year, but during spring cleaning you should inspect the door closely, looking for stains or small signs of damage. Small holes can be fixed with wood filler, then painted. Stains should be scrubbed, and a stain remover used if necessary.

Inspection

Cleaning and maintaining your garage door can be done any time of the year but including this task in your spring cleaning list is great because you can effectively get rid of the dirt and salt damage that has accumulated over the winter (especially in colder climates). Performing these simple techniques yearly will lengthen the life of your garage door and boost the curb appeal of your home. Happy spring cleaning!!!