One of the most frequently asked questions by homeowners is if their electric garage doors need servicing? The short answer to this is “yes”. All garage doors, regardless of whether they are electronic or manually operated need to be serviced.

In fact, we’ll go so far as to say that electric garage doors need servicing more often, and frequent inspections as compared to manually operated ones.

It is essential to look at an Electric Garage Door as a machine. Like any other machine it has motors, cogs, it is mainly made from metal and because of all this requires lubrication in addition to other maintenance steps.

While most people may view their electric garage door as a necessary luxury, it can become a hassle if it isn’t maintained. Fortunately, it does not take a lot to maintain an electric garage door.

We’ll run through a Few Necessary Maintenance Steps for all garage doors in this article.

Clean Your Garage Door Regularly

You will always want to make sure that the garage door is clean. Fortunately cleaning most metal and wood garage doors is easy. All you need is a soft brush and some detergent. Make sure to clean the garage door at least once every two months. Proper cleaning will remove any and all corrosive dirt and chemicals which may otherwise cause it to breakdown the structure of the door.

If you have a wooden garage door cleaning with detergent and a brush will help to remove sediments and chemicals which may cause the garage door to warp or impede its operation. Also, as an extra maintenance step, you might want to repaint it every few years, which reduces the chances of moisture building up, which then seeps into the door. When a garage door becomes warped, it can make it difficult to close or open entirely.

Now in addition to cleaning the garage door, make sure to inspect it too. You will want to try and see if there is any sign of hinges or springs that are breaking. If you see that there is rush or chances are that something is worn to the point where it is going to break, make sure to get it professionally inspected.

Paint Wooden Garage Doors Every 24 Months

Wooden garage doors require a little extra care than their metal counterparts. One of the things that most people notice about the wooden garage door is that paint often starts fading or peeling off. Depending on where you live, you’ll start to see the paint peel within around 24 months on average. If you live near the sea, then you’ll see the paint peel sooner.

Ideally, you will want to paint a wooden garage door every 24 months. Doing this will help ensure that your garage door looks as good as new all the time. Plus, It helps insulate the door from weather damage which can otherwise be devastating if the door isn’t painted.

Annual Lubrication of All Moving Parts

Metal and wooden garage doors have the Internal Parts in common, i.e. their chains and springs are the same. The mechanism in these doors are made from metal, and that allows the door to move up and down effortlessly. However, like all things metal, they can get rusty, and your job is to prevent rust.

One of the best ways to prevent the build-up rust is to spray some lightweight oil on all the hinges, pivot points and rollers once every year. Not only will it keep the garage door moving smoothly day in and day out, but, it will prevent the build-up of rust.

We also advise that homeowners examine their garage doors thoroughly every year. Make sure to tighten bolts, nuts, and screws that are coming loose. If anything, we consider it one of the most important steps to ensuring that the garage door moves properly and lasts you a very long time.

Clean the Tracks and then Lubricate Them

Cleaning the garage door’s tracks is easy, and homeowners can do it. Use a clean cloth to wipe down the tracks and make sure to clean all the exposed rollers. You will also want to remove excessive moisture.

After you are satisfied with the cleaning, then use a special garage door lubricant or alternatively powdered graphite, across the rollers. Doing this will help extend the life of the rollers by reducing friction. It will also help the rollers move easily.

Conclusion

If you Spot Any Potential Issues, make sure to hire a professional to fix it for you. Do not undertake garage door repairs on your own as they can be dangerous.