Save Big with Best DIY Garage Door Maintenance Tips
At Garage Door Woodland Tx, we usually kept getting different kinds of ads. Once we got the advertising mailer the other day, it says: ‘Garage Door Tune Up Special: $49.00 (regularly $87.50).’ Sounds like a great deal, right? It’s actually not that great. I’m going to share with you some garage door maintenance tips that you can easily do yourself. It will save your time and keep $49.00 in your pocket.
The Woodland garage door maintenance usually takes only about 15 minutes, which is less time than you’ll spend calling one of those professionals and meeting them at your house. It’s quite simple. You just need a wrench or a socket, a lubricant, and some scrap cardboard. Now, let’s begin.
The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance
Remember, if you don’t show it some love with a little garage door maintenance, you would be dealing with problems down the road. Worn-out parts, excess friction, and potential breakdowns are just a few of the headaches that come with neglect.
So, regular maintenance can make a huge difference. It helps you avoid:
- Noisy or rough operation
- Sudden malfunctions that leave you stuck
- Costly repairs that could’ve been avoided
- Keeping the exterior of your house looking nice, too!
What’s the best thing? You can save a lot of money by following these easy garage door repair tips. It can cost $50 to $100 or more to have a professional tune up your door. With just a few basic supplies, you can do it yourself in about 15 minutes.
What Are the Goals of Regular Garage Door Maintenance?
Our garage door maintenance service has two primary objectives when our team performs this kind of work.
- The first is to lubricate all the moving parts
- The second objective is to make sure that all parts are functioning as they should today.
We are just going to cover the routine maintenance for you, not the big repairs. But we do want to give a shout-out to our sponsor: garagedoorswoodlandstx.com. They are the place to go for repairs. They’ve got excellent product selection and superb customer service. So I highly encourage you to check them out when you’re done here today.
Gather the Necessary Tools and Supplies
Before you begin your DIY garage door maintenance, make sure you have the following tools and supplies on hand:
- Wrench or socket set
- Lubricant (multi-purpose)
- Scrap cardboard (optional, for protecting walls during lubrication)
- Rag
You may also want to have the following items available, depending on the specific needs of your garage door:
- Winding bars (for adjusting the tension of the springs)
- Replacement rollers or other parts (if needed)
Step-by-Step Garage Door Maintenance Tips
Now, let’s go over the steps you can take to maintain your garage door yourself. To keep your garage door in great shape, you should do this at least once a year, and preferably twice a year.
1. Disconnect the Garage Door And Tighten The Hinges
Take the start by releasing the garage from the opener. This way, you can freely move the door and access all the necessary components for maintenance. Do this after making sure that all the hinges are tight. These are mounted with bolts or lagged screws.
Remember, you don’t have to really torque these down. You just want to go through and check each one. If you can turn it a little bit, go ahead and do it, but don’t apply a lot of force to it. We just want to make sure that they’re nice and tight.
2. Lubricate the Moving Parts
Once the hinges are tight, it’s time to grease them! Get your oil ready, and let’s begin. Start with the hinges. Make sure to grease both the outside and the inside of them. Also, you should oil the roller pins well. As an easy tip, spin the rollers while you oil them. This will help the oil get into all the spaces.
(i). The Roller Bearings
Let’s talk about the roller bearings next. You can still use a little grease on nylon rollers, even though they don’t have ball bearings. Also, make sure to grease any older metal wheels that have ball bearings. Give them the care they need, and they’ll last longer and be quieter.
Bonus Tip: I strongly suggest that you switch to sealed bearing nylon rollers. They are smoother, easier to put in, and will last longer than metal ones. Not only that, but they really help cut down on noise.
(ii). The Springs
Next, focus on the springs. They have a bearing in the bracket that needs lubricating, so don’t miss that. You can also apply lubricant to the springs themselves; just be careful not to get it everywhere. We use a piece of scrap cardboard usually to avoid getting lube on the walls.
(iii). The Pulleys and Tension Wire
Now, move on to the pulleys at each end of the bar. Apply lubricant around the pulley where the cable runs through. It also doesn’t hurt to wipe down the tension wire with some lubricant to reduce friction. Just be sure to hit the bearings as well, even if they’re a little hard to reach.
(iv). The Track
Don’t forget the track of your woodland garage door! This is where the woodland garage door moves, so it needs lubrication. Run some lubricant along the top portion of the rail to keep things running smoothly.
3. Check Your Door Balance Ad Door Seal
After putting grease on everything, check the door’s balance. To make sure everything works well, open and close it a few times. If you lift it halfway, it should stay put. If it doesn’t, you might need to fix the springs. But be careful; changing springs can be hard and even dangerous. Before you try to do this on your own, do some study or think about calling a professional at Garage Door Woodland Tx.
While your door is up, it’s a great time to check the door seal for any rips or tears. It’s an easy fix, and replacing it will help keep your garage insulated and protected from the elements.
4. Final Steps and Pro Tips
Now, I know you might be thinking, “Hay, this all sounds easy, but I’m not sure about messing with my springs.” If you’re not comfortable adjusting them, you can always reach out to a professional for help. But if you do want to adjust them yourself, make sure you get a set of winding bars, and check out our informative blogs about garage door maintenance tips for a safe and effective process.
How To Maintain The Good Appearance Of Your Garage Door?
So aside from the fact that you’re keeping up with the maintenance of your woodland garage door, don’t lose sight of the aesthetics. That is, if your garage door is clean and maintained properly, it can add a lot of benefits to your home exterior.
First, use a wet wipe to clean the surface area in question to make sure it is free of any forms of dirt. If your door is painted or stained, then it would be appropriate to make a recoat of your door every 3-4 years.
Oh and don’t forget the glass or windows. Make sure to clean them for them to stay clean and shiny for a short period.
If your garage door is functioning well, it may also attract potential buyers’ attention and thus increase your house’s market price. It only takes a small amount of work to have a big impact!
When to Seek Professional Help?
Thus, unlike most other types of garage door repair and maintenance , there are a few things that are best left to the professionals.
- Adjusting the spring tension: This can really be confusing and even risky if one is not keen on observing the rules of engagement. It is normally advisable to let someone who knows what to do it.
- Replacing broken or worn parts: Why take the chance & damage it even more or get electric shock if something needs repairing or is old? Take it to the technician.
- Upgrading or replacing the whole system: If the garage door is old or you simply wish to have a new one, then it will be best to get the service of a professional in your garage door installation.
Always keep safety in mind. If you are in doubt about doing something, it’s safer to leave it to the expertise of a professional person rather than attempt to do it yourself.
Is your garage door broken down? Let the pros handle it! For all types of garage door maintenance services, get in touch with us. We will ensure your door remains in the best state possible and you do not have to bother yourself. Don’t let your garage door struggle through the night, and call us today to get your garage door working optimally!