How Can I Extend the Life of My Garage Door System?

a technician from Eco Overhead Garage Doors maintaining a residential garage door

Think about it — when was the last time you checked on your garage door system? Many homeowners fail to care for their garage doors, reducing their lifespans and the money in their wallets. Whether you’ve just got a new garage door installed or if you’ve had one for years, you should go the extra mile to ensure that all the parts that make up your garage door system are safe and sound. The following tips are simple and easy and will go a long way toward helping you extend the life of your garage door system.

Don’t Ignore Things That You See or Hear

Sometimes it can be tempting to throw that weird sound away as just a normal part of operations or something you can deal with later. But like your car, garage doors show plenty of signs that things are going wrong before a more catastrophic event occurs. When your car breaks are giving way, they will start to squeal and alert you that it’s time for a change. Similarly, when your garage door parts are giving way, you might hear weird grinding, scraping, or sawing noises when the door opens and closes. If this is the case, contact your local garage door service company before parts wear out.

Read Your Owner’s Manual

The owner’s manual is an underrated part of all important products and appliances. Many owners’ manuals often list ways to solve and prevent common problems. Certain sounds and issues can be diagnosed with an owner’s manual, which will list best practices for keeping your garage door system safe. When in doubt, a thorough glance at the manual might be all it takes to find the answers you need.

Lubricate the Moving Parts

Your tracks, hinges, springs, and other moving parts endure a ton of wear and tear while operating over the years. Lubrication is the most important way to ensure these parts stay intact and prevent them from screeching in your ears as they operate.

Just be sure that when you are lubricating, you use an appropriate lubricant for the metal components. If you aren’t sure, you can glance at your owner’s manual or reach out to a local company like Eco Overhead Garage Door Service.

Keep Your Garage Door Clean

The garage doors themselves take a beating, and while you might be tempted to ignore cleaning them, it’s important to wipe down panels. Keeping dirt and debris to a minimum can help prevent problems with your sensors and keep additional parts of your garage door clean for longer. Cleaning the door can also keep the metal from rusting and help your garage door opener last most of its 10 to 15-year lifespan.

Keep Your Tracks Clean and Maintained

As one of the most frequently used and important parts of your door, the tracks need to be kept as clean as possible. Besides keeping them properly lubricated, you should also get rid of accumulating dirt because it can get between garage door tracks. You don’t have to wipe it down daily, but you must ensure that the rollers aren’t impacted. If too much dirt accumulates, your rollers can derail or become stuck, leading to additional problems with your garage door springs and automatic openers.

Another Tip: Trust in a Professional Garage Door Company

What better way to keep your garage door system intact than with a professional garage door company specializing in extending the life of garage systems? With the knowledge base and expertise of the Eco Overhead Garage Door Service technicians, you can rest assured knowing that your garage door system will last as long as possible. Contact us today if you’re looking for garage door maintenance in Austin, TX, and we’ll help keep your garage door running without a hiccup.