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Tips to extend the life of your garage door
What’s the average?
People always want to know statistics; well, here’s some. On average, a garage door lasts for about for 3 decades or longer with regular use. Your garage door springs have life that is measured in cycles. One garage door opening and one closing is equal to one cycle. Your torsion springs usually last for about 20,000 cycles while the less expensive extension variety last for about half that, or 10,000 cycles. Overall, a typical garage door should last for at least 10 to 15 years with regular use. Bear in mind that these are average numbers and statistics; not hard facts. How you treat your garage door and its parts will play a huge part in how long it lasts and with our tips, yours should gain some good years!
Don’t let maintenance scare you!
Remember; these are tips to help you make your garage door last longer! You can’t do that by meditating over your garage door; you have to do something, though not too much. All it takes is a little TLC and your garage door can look better and last longer! If you are missing a panel or section of your garage door or if it needs paint, it can be quite noticeable from the street. Anyone walking or driving by will get the impression that the entire property is not maintained well. It’s a reflection on you so be aware of that. If a spring is snapped and your garage door hangs to one side, it is also very easy to notice from across the way. As you can see, even a little disrepair can be quite noticeable. It can even lower your property’s value! If you are selling your home, it won’t’ appraise for as much as it would if no garage door maintenance problems were present.
Wait; garage doors are tough; aren’t they?
Your garage door is made of aluminum, wood, steel or wood composites. It weighs several hundred pounds, is used nearly every day and it faces all kinds of weather and temperature conditions. That said, isn’t it tough enough to not need maintenance? The answer is a resounding no! You need to look at your garage door, not as indestructible, but as an appliance that needs periodic care, even if only a little.
Clean garage doors look good and last longer
Periodic cleaning can be very good for your garage door. It will look better and work better, too. Don’t wait until the poor door is filthy; periodic cleaning will remove leaves, paint, cobwebs, grease, dirt, smears, fingerprints and more. These items are all easy to notice and can collectively clog your tracks, cover your sensor lenses and block the movement of your rollers. No need to get fancy or spend lots on pricey soaps and cleansers; just use plain water and a little detergent. Some people like to apply car wax to their metal garage door. If yours is wood, you can always apply a coat of paint. It’s always nice to take a walk outside your home and look objectively at your garage door. Try and notice its appearance and the first impression that it gives off. Keeping your garage door clean and bright looking is great for property values but for overall garage door performance and general maintenance, be sure to keep your sensors, tracks and rollers clean and free of any blockage.
Lubrication is good
A little lube goes a long way when it comes to garage door maintenance.Apply periodic lubrication to your hinges, rollers and springs. Try and use a light spray lubricant and apply very lightly; a tiny spritz will do. Do this every few months for best results.
Clean sensors
Your photo electric safety eyes have sensors on them that need to be clear at all times. Think of them like they were camera lenses that must be kept free of debris and dirt. A clogged sensor lens can block transmission of the sensor beam and prevent your opener unit from doing its job. Again, there’s no need to get fancy; just wipe the sensors clean with a dry cloth. Be on the look-out for spider webs. Not only do you not want black widows in your home, but the sticky spider webs can trap other bugs, leaves, dirt and twigs so that movement of your garage door can be negatively affected.
Inspect once in a while
Make your rounds and check your garage door every now and then. Do this from both the outside and the inside. Look for chipping paint, smeared grease or paint, spider webs, frayed wires, unplugged wires, missing bolts, loose hinges, clogged tracks, loose handles, snapped cables and anything else that seems out of order. Be sure to check your garage door tracks for grime, leaves and other build up that can occur. Winter times often can turn grease into hardened clots and these can stop your garage door rollers from moving up and down in your tracks. This can prevent your garage door from opening or closing correctly and even give off a false impression that something is wrong with your opener unit or your sensors.