Annual Maintenance Checklist for Old Garage Doors

Older garage doors require routine checks and maintenance in order to continue functioning efficiently. But many homeowners are unaware of the factors involved in a garage door repair/maintenance checklist.

The following tips can be helpful in keeping your garage door in great shape, even as it continues to age. An annual inspection, maintenance, and repair routine are all necessary for old garage doors to work properly.

1. Inspecting the garage door system

Homeowners should check all sections of the door for damage. This is important so the joints in between the sections can close for it to be weather-tight.

The spring system also needs to be inspected on a regular basis. The springs should not be broken or excessively rusted. Be extra cautious if you’re trying to repair them on your own. To avoid risk of injury or further damage to the springs, you should call a professional garage door repair service if you suspect they need to be changed. Always inspect both springs, and look for signs of rust, fragility, and wear and tear.

The door’s hinges should not bend or twist, and the screws must always be properly tightened. Make sure the rollers are not worn out or broken, and the lifting cables are not frayed. The cables need to wind properly around the spool (at the vertical track’s top).

Always manually lift the garage door when undertaking a maintenance inspection. This ensures that the overall lifting system is working properly.

2. Maintenance for old wooden garage doors

As far as wooden garage doors are concerned, the maintenance approach is slightly different from that of metal doors. If damaged, they can easily be repaired and brought back to life with some professional help.

It is possible to scrape off old paint and apply a new color. This simple change will literally make your property come alive. Homeowners also need to replace rotten wood and paint the door with a fresh coat after every few years to keep it aesthetically appealing.

3. Door balance

Inspecting the balance of your old wooden garage door on a regular basis is crucial.

You must shut the garage door and disconnect it from the door opener. Open and close the door manually to make sure it is operating smoothly. Lubricate the springs or rollers to help in the opening/closing of the door. After opening the garage door halfway, simply let it go. The door should neither rise nor fall if it is properly balanced.

 

These are some of the basic steps for checking the health of your old garage door, and should be a part of your annual inspection checklist!

Three Signs Your Garage Door Needs to Be Replaced

Your garage door may not get as much of attention from you as the front door of your house. So it is likely that you may remain unaware about problems related to your garage door, unless something huge  happens (like the door refusing to open or close). So don't wait for such grave issues to jeopardize the safety of your car. Instead, look for these signs, which may imply that your car garage door needs to be replaced:

It creates a squeaking noise

Among the major signs that you should start looking at new garage doors is when your existing door starts making squeaky noises. It is a sign of a door lacking lubrication, which if not taken care of early, can lead to bigger problems. A creaking noise could also be a hint about issues with the garage door opener or spring.

It does not open swiftly

If your garage door does not open at its normal speed, it could be due to a blockage in its path. A garage door that does not operate smoothly is a serious safety hazard and should not be ignored. If it is due to a faulty spring, you can opt for garage door service to get it fixed. However, for much serious problems, it is recommended that you get a replacement.

It is not energy efficient

If you do not have a modern garage door, you may be missing out on the energy efficiency features that most doors offer presently. Your old door may also be lacking safety features. You can get them all by replacing your old garage door with the latest options that suit your requirements. If have an energy efficient garage door, but you still notice a sudden spike in your energy bills, it could be due to several reasons like faulty door installation or insulation breakdown.

Broken components

Your garage door spring or opener could be broken, or there could be issues with the rollers, track or even the hinges. In such cases, you can just focus on the problem area and get it fixed. For example, if the springs are broken, you can get them replaced instead of getting a new door altogether. The same goes for tracks, if they appear bent or blocked, you can get them fixed or cleaned. However, if the issue is beyond repair or may prove to be a costly one, you can consider getting a new garage door.

You can also get a new garage door if your old one is outdated and does not go well with the exterior of your house. So if you have recently renovated your house and if your unflattering garage door appears to be an eyesore now, you can get it replaced. It will add to the aesthetic appeal of your house. Always leave the job of replacing or repairing major faults related to your garage door to the professionals. Also, get frequent service and maintenance checks done on your garage door to keep it operating. normally for years to come.

Does Your Garage Door Need Repair or Replacement

Are you in a fix about whether your garage door needs repair or replacement? There are various ways to analyze this situation and make a decision regarding whether just a quick repair is needed or new parts would better allow the door to operate more efficiently. A very important factor to take into consideration is safety. The user should not be at a risk of getting injured while operating the garage door. At the same time, a homeowner also needs to understand that if the garage door is damaged beyond repair and could cause the overall structure to become weak, then it definitely requires replacement.

Checking for repair/replacement

Below are some guidelines that could help you take a decision about repairing or replacing your garage door.

Observe for wear and tear

Take time to do a thorough inspection of your door. Check for any warping, denting, cracking, or any other visible signs of damage on the garage door and its parts. When the appearance of wear and tear is minimal and only on the surface, then it is probably good to have a garage door tune-up performed for best long term use.

On the other hand, if you notice severe wear on parts and loud noises, which indicate that the door has notable wear and tear, then it is definitely advisable to opt for extensive repairs or replacement. When the damage is just restricted to a single panel and not the entire door, you could also think about replacing simply that particular section.

But it is important to not ignore the panel replacement altogether because if one section of the door becomes weak, it could end up affecting the overall functionality of the garage door. This means that you will have to bear even more expenditure in the long run when the entire door structure falls apart.

Opener safety

As mentioned earlier, safety of garage door use if a very important factor to consider. If you notice that there is some malfunctioning in the door opener, you might be putting your safety at risk. It is important to ensure that garage door is operating efficiently and does not end up accidentally closing on a person or a pet. In addition to this, you would also want to keep any burglars away from your home.

Ensure that your door’s tracks are properly greased and there is no squeaking. In case the tracks are squeaking, you need to add some more grease or you might even have to replace the garage door opener.

A situation in which your door is running slowly or stops altogether, it might be necessary to replace some parts. You might have to reset the motor switch. Majority of the garage doors need some adjustment between summer and winter seasons. Just a slight adjustment is required; otherwise you may end up causing more damage, as opposed to doing any good. This could actually land you in a situation when the door needs replacement.

Some of the parts that commonly require replacement include; rollers, torsion springs, hinges, bearings, drums, and cables.