Even if the winter wasn’t a particularly harsh one, there is still a transitional period as the months warm up, and this is a good time to perform a few, simple maintenance checks on your garage door. Some basic checks you can easily get done yourself, whereas others may require a visit from a professional, either way, it’s important that you follow these to prevent you from having to carry out costly repairs or pay for a replacement door later in the year.
- A quick but effective basic clean and external inspection:
Cast your eye over your garage door and look for dust and grime that may have built up over the winter period. Cleaning it with plain old soap and water should do the job, and then you can shift your focus to other areas that may require some maintenance.
While you’re looking at the overall appearance of your garage door, you might want to consider getting it re-painted or re-sealed in areas that might have gotten worn down, which will help to prevent water from seeping in and causing damage during summer rains.
- A thorough inspection of the moving components:
You can also have a good look at the moving components of your garage door while you’re cleaning it, but pay special attention to the hinges, cables and track bolts to ensure that they’re all tight. The springs are the final vital component that you’ll need to inspect, and you’re looking for signs of rust, corrosion, or anything else that doesn’t look quite right. For a more detailed inspection of these parts of your door, call in the professionals to ensure that any damage gets repaired before it causes a major problem.
- Re-lubrication:
It pays to re-lubricate the tracks of your garage and the rollers at least twice a year, but once annually, as a minimum. When lubricating, always use a lithium or silicone based one, and try not to use too much, otherwise you’ll just find that dirt, dust and grime simply stick to it and cause a build-up of debris that could prevent the door from opening and closing properly.
- Checking the insulation and weather stripping:
Whether you use your garage for storing items in or not, it’s important that your garage is properly insulated, or you’ll soon notice an increase in your monthly bills. Check the seals and weather stripping to ensure that they haven’t worn down, and if they have, you’ll need to get them re-sealed as soon as possible. Since the insulation itself is inside the panels of your garage door, you may need the professionals to come and check this aspect, and while they’re there, they can give the whole door a maintenance assessment.
To check whether your garage door is in tip top condition and will see you through the summer months and into winter, reach out to your local, trusted garage door supplier who can arrange a thorough, maintenance assessment.
