Convenient automation has become a staple in millions of homes worldwide, and garage doors are at the top of that list. Garage doors are wildly convenient, but they’re also wildly overlooked for preventative maintenance. We’ve compiled the best ways you can protect your #1 home investment (i.e. our expertise), get more bang for your buck, and make sure your garage door lasts far longer than the suggested lifespan.
Garage doors certainly aren’t the cheapest investment, but they’re guaranteed to boost your overall curb appeal, and it’s an investment where you see your money return to you. How is this possible? A good looking home ultimately raises property value and any potential buyers will flock if you ever put it on the market. In the meantime, follow these next steps carefully to best protect your investment.
1. Schedule Garage Door Maintenance With Your Trusted, Local Garage Door Company
Of course, the best route for protecting your investment is scheduling routine maintenance with a local, professional garage door repair and installation company. At Henderson Garage Door Services, we will thoroughly inspect the interior and exterior of your garage door, identify concerns, and discuss repair or replacement options if we find anything pertinent.
General garage door maintenance would include:
- Checking all safety mechanisms
- Performing a door balance test
- Tightening and lubricating all moving parts
- Replacing any worn or faulty parts
2. Perform an At-Home Balance Test
Here’s a quick and fun little test you can perform on your garage door! Disengage your opener, and manually (and ever so carefully!) lift your garage door to your knees. You can do this by pulling onto the red cord hanging from the opener, so your garage door is in manual mode.
Like playing the shoulder, knees, and toes game in reverse, repeat lifting the garage door and release slowly, making sure it doesn’t fall at full force. If the door is too heavy to open, or the door falls at any of the heights, this is a dead giveaway that your springs need to be professionally tightened or replaced.
Please call our professionals instead of manually lifting your garage door. This step is incredibly dangerous, especially if your garage door is unbalanced.
3. Take Care Of Your Garage Door’s Moving Parts
With the amount of repeat opening and closing cycles your garage door system undergoes, it’s critical to take extra care of your garage door’s pressure points. Protect your investment with TLC, and add garage door lubricant to your springs twice a year, or whenever the weather changes.
The parts that experience the most friction include your garage door springs, tracks, and rollers. Keep in mind that the lubricant needs to be oil-based and garage door-specific. It should be applied to only the metal parts, not the plastic adjoining components.
- Clear away any dirt, dust, or debris before you begin.
- Spray a good distance away, so the specified parts are covered evenly.
- Afterwards, wipe away excess lubricant so there’s no drippage.
During a scheduled garage door tune-up, one of our technicians will take care of this step for you.
4. Know Your Local Area And Reinforce Your Garage Door
A couple of ways you can reinforce your existing garage door is by installing a layer of insulation (2-3 layers of insulation won’t hurt!) or installing wind and impact-resistant garage door materials.
Please note for the state of Texas: Hurricane doors are only required in Galveston, Chambers, Brazoria, and select areas of Harris, but it’s still a good idea to reinforce your garage door.
Upgrading your door from a single layer to a reinforced garage door will be the best way to ensure your home or business holding your valuables are protected. Hurricane garage doors are thoroughly tested and well constructed to meet Texas building codes. Please contact us directly for this special garage door order.
Start With Garage Door Maintenance And We’ll Help Protect Your Investment!
Your garage door is the most commonly used entryway, and with so many parts, there is guaranteed wear and tear. Whether it’s to your home, retail store, distribution center, storefront, or shop, it is imperative that your garage door system receives routine, professional maintenance.
After learning the four ways to best protect your investment, Henderson Garage Door Services can make sure your garage door is set for life.
