When it comes to maintaining your home, you might not give much thought to your garage door. However, routine maintenance is the best way to extend the lifespan of your garage door. Seasonal garage door maintenance prevents damage, reduces hardware strain, and keeps your door looking great. And performing a few simple tasks each season can save you time and money in the long run.
Not sure where to start? Check out our seasonal garage door maintenance schedule below or print out our checklist for a reminder on how to maintain a garage door.
Spring Garage Door Maintenance
Many people clean out their home (and garage) every spring as part of the annual spring-cleaning ritual. The maintenance tasks below are the perfect break from carrying junk to the curb.
Inspect All Moving Parts
Keep an eye out for rust or corrosion on metal parts. Also, ensure the door opens and closes smoothly without any hiccups.
Check and replace your garage door rollers. Every two years, give the top rollers a once-over. They might need replacing every five to seven years. If you spot cracked rollers, a garage door pro should take a look and replace them.
However, leave the bottom roller brackets alone. They’re connected to lift cables and are super tight because of the tension from the torsion assembly, so you won’t want to mess with those.
Lubricate the Moving Parts
It’s important to lubricate your garage door’s moving parts every spring and fall. The only exception to this is the track. Instead of using a silicone or lithium grease lubricant, wipe the tracks down with automotive brake cleaner to loosen any dirt. Make sure you’re lubricating the following parts:
- Hinges
- Rollers
- Springs
- Bearing Plates
- Armbar
- Lock and Keyhole
- Rails
Frequent maintenance of your door’s moving parts is especially crucial if you live in a coastal environment, where salty air can corrode and rust the door’s tracks, hardware, and steel frame.
Wash the Windows
Spring is also the perfect time of year to wash your garage door’s windows. Cleaning your door’s windows keeps them looking great and allows them to add as much light as possible into your garage. You can do this with an all-purpose glass cleaner (like Windex®) and a soft cloth or paper towel.
Summer Garage Door Maintenance
Summer is the perfect time to maintain the face of your garage door. As temperatures warm up and you spend more time outside, dedicate a few hours to the tasks below.
Wash Your Entire Door
Summer is a great time to wash your garage door. All you need is a mild detergent (e.g. dishwashing liquid or biodegradable cleaner) and a soft rag or soft bristle brush. You should never use scouring powders or solvents or mix your cleaner with bleach. Summer is also a good time to inspect your door and weather stripping for mold, especially if you have a wooden door.
As you wash your door, make sure you’re cleaning all of the weather stripping and the door stop. When you’ve finished, rinse it with a garden hose or low-pressure garden sprayer. You should never use a pressure washer to rinse your door.
Inspect Your Door
Summer is also a good time to inspect your door and weather stripping for mold, especially if you have a wooden door. Humidity can create ideal conditions for its growth, so regular inspections are essential to identify and address any warning signs.
Look for dark spots, discoloration, or a musty odor. If you notice any of these indicators, it’s important to take immediate action. Mold can not only damage the door itself but also pose health risks.
Additionally, consider sealing any cracks or gaps in the door or weather stripping to prevent moisture from entering and creating a conducive environment for mold growth.
Touch Up the Finish
If your garage door is painted, you’ll want to use touch-up paint to cover any marks. It’s a good idea to apply a coat of Turtle Wax® each summer, as this thickens the finish and adds sheen. If the paint is peeling significantly, you may need to sand and repaint the door.
If your garage door is stained, you may need to refresh its protective top coat. If your door has lost its sheen, try applying a coat of Minwax® Helmsman® Spar Urethane. Any small dings or scratches can be lightly sanded and covered with touch-up stain.
Artisan offers several products to help keep your doors looking great, like our Maintenance Coat and Faux Stain Paint Finish. Please contact us for more information.
Battery Replacement in Remotes
One of the most often neglected parts of garage door maintenance is the remote control battery. The ease of using a remote can quickly become frustrating when it unexpectedly dies.
Summer is the perfect time to replace the batteries in your remote controls and keypads. This guarantees you’re never left outside in the sweltering weather, waiting to get into your garage.
Fall Garage Door Maintenance
Your garage door can take a beating over the summer, whether from extreme heat or stormy weather. Make sure you check these fall maintenance tasks off of your to-do list.
Visually Inspect Your Door
Make sure you inspect the face of your garage door at least once a year. Look for fading, cracking, peeling, and blistering, and check for dents, scratches, and gouges that might allow moisture to penetrate the door.
If bright sun and extreme heat caused your door to lighten over the summer, take the time to refinish it. If you have a wooden door, determine if it has expanded or contracted after an especially rainy summer. Warped wooden doors detract from your home’s curb appeal and also negatively affect your garage’s insulation and security.
Check Your Door’s Sensors
Summer heat can wreak havoc on your garage door’s delicate components. Extreme temperatures can cause sensors to malfunction and mechanisms to become sluggish.
If you own an automatic garage door opener, it’s crucial to regularly inspect and test its safety features. The auto-reverse function, for instance, is designed to prevent accidents. When the door encounters an obstruction, it should immediately stop and reverse direction.
Additionally, the photoelectric system, which utilizes infrared beams to detect objects in the door’s path, should also trigger a reversal. By ensuring these safety features are functioning properly, you can help protect yourself and your belongings from potential hazards.
Winter Garage Door Maintenance
Garage door maintenance doesn’t end just because it’s cold out! Here’s what you need to do to prepare your garage door for winter.
Inspect the Weather Stripping
Weather stripping and astragal keeps cold air out of your garage and helps prevent warm air from escaping. Weatherstripping also keeps moisture from leaking into your door’s moving parts and freezing, which prevents door movement.
Start by inspecting the weather stripping on the top and sides of the door for rips and tears. You should also check the astragal at the bottom of the door. With the door closed, look for gaps in weather stripping at the top, bottom, and sides of the door opening.
Weather stripping should always be flexible, rather than stiff. If your weather stripping is stiff and brittle from exposure to cold air, it’s time to replace it.
Test the Door Balance
If your door isn’t balanced, the automatic opener has to work harder, which can cause more expensive problems down the road. Testing your door’s balance is easy. Start by pulling the release handle on the automatic opener and manually lifting the door until it’s halfway open. Then, let go of the door. If it says in place, it’s balanced. If it doesn’t, it’s time to get a professional to replace the springs.
