Your garage door is, without a doubt, one of the hardest working parts of your home. Not only does it open and close multiple times each day, but it is also responsible for protecting your possessions, as well as helping to provide security and energy savings for your home. However, despite all it does, garage doors are frequently neglected until they actually break down.
The bad news is that, all too often, this means costly garage door repair, and in some cases, garage door replacement services.
The good news is that, by learning how garage door maintenance can actually save you money, you will be able to take the necessary steps to extend the life of your garage doors, as well as improve their performance.
Why Garage Door Maintenance Matters
The garage door system is composed of several components that move in sync with each other. These components include the springs, cables, rollers, tracks, hinges, panels, sensors, and the automatic door opener. If one of these components fails, it can put pressure on the entire system.
- The benefits of maintaining your garage door are:
- Prevention of unexpected breakdowns
- Prevention of excessive wear and tear
- Safety
- Prolonging the lifespan of the components
- Smooth and quiet door operations
Garage door maintenance is similar to car maintenance. Just as a simple adjustment today will save you from a more expensive repair in the near future, maintaining your garage door will help you avoid more expensive repairs in the long run.
How Regular Garage Door Maintenance Saves You Money
1. Prevents Costly Emergency Repairs
Emergency garage door repairs tend to be more expensive because they often occur at inconvenient times (ex. late at night, over the weekend, or during severe weather conditions).
Small problems, such as: loose hardware, rollers, or minor track problems, can quickly turn into major problems if left unchecked.
The small problems that could arise include:
- Broken garage door springs
- Snapped cables
- Damaged opener motor
- Bent tracks
By having regular inspections and tune-ups, you will prevent small problems from becoming major problems.
2. Extends the Lifespan of Your Garage Door
The lifespan of a garage door is usually between 15 and 30 years, depending on the material, usage, and maintenance of the door.
If the garage door is not well maintained, friction and strain may cause the door to deteriorate much sooner.
Garage door components, such as torsion springs and rollers, are designed for a certain number of cycles or uses.
Components may deteriorate if they are not lubricated and aligned.
The benefits of regular garage door maintenance include:
- Reducing friction on moving parts
- Maintaining the balance of the springs
- Maintaining proper alignment of the garage door
- Preventing premature failure of components
The longer your garage door lasts, the more you will save on replacement costs.
3. Improves Energy Efficiency
Your garage door has a role to play too in the overall insulation of your home. So, if your garage door is not closing properly, it could cause outside air to enter into the home, thus influencing the overall temperature inside the home.
These are the results if your garage door is not closing properly:
- Increased costs in winter – If the cold air enters your house, your heating system inside tends to work harder which causes your bill payment goes up.
- Increased costs in summer- If a hot air enters your house, your cooling system inside tends to work harder which increases electricity bill.
Therefore, it is better to maintain the checking of the weather stripping and the seals at the bottom, because it is much cheaper than paying an increased monthly bills.
4. Reduces Strain on the Garage Door Opener
If your garage door is not properly maintained, the motor or the drive of the garage door opener will be damaged. Hence, may cause an expensive repair cost
These are the signs if the garage door opener is not properly maintained:
- Slower opening or closing
- Jerky motion
- Grinding sounds
- Unpredictable response to remote controls
Maintaining your springs and tracks will reduce strain on your opener, giving you a longer life span and avoiding the need to replace an expensive motor unit.
5. Prevents Structural Damage to Panels and Tracks
Misaligned tracks or rollers could cause the door to move in an irregular manner. This could result in dents, warped panels, or even bent tracks.
Repairing panels or even the tracks could prove to be quite costly. Hence, regular checking could help in the early detection of several issues with the garage door’s alignment.
Rollers are one of the first components to wear, our roller inspection and replacement guide covers what to look for.
6. Minimizes Accidents
Your garage door is heavy it weighs over 150 pounds (68 kg) or more. The damaged parts could lead to serious injuries or property damage.
Here are the tips on checking or maintaining your garage door regularly:
- Check the safety sensors
- Check the auto-reverse feature
- Check the condition of the cables
- Check the springs
Therefore, preventing accidents protects your family, and saves you money on medical and liability costs.
Essential Garage Door Maintenance Tips
Now that we have an idea of the cost savings that maintenance provides, let’s take a look at the steps that we can take.
1. Garage Door Inspection
Garage door inspection and the system parts must be conducted every month.
So, if there’s a problem during inspection you must immediately call a professional:
- Loose bolts or brackets
- Worn out cables
- Presence of rust
- Cracks in the panels
- Loud noises
Therefore, early detection is highly recommended to prevent expensive repairs.
2. Lubricating the Garage Door
Lubricating your garage door make sures that the important parts move smoothly and effectively.
Lubricate the following parts:
- Rollers
- Hinges
- Springs
- Bearings
- Tracks (lightly) with silicone-based lubricant and not grease
Always take note that, lubrication must be done every 3 to 6 months.
3. Testing the Garage Door Balance
If your garage door is not properly balanced, it puts strain on the door opener.
Here are some tips to check if your door is well balanced:
- You have to disconnect the door opener in manually.
- Try to lift the door halfway.
- Try releasing the door carefully.
Therefore, if the door doesn’t budge, it is in balance. But, if the door is rising or falling fast, you must seek professional attention to adjust the door springs.
4. Inspecting or Changing Weather Stripping
You should always know and check that the rubber seal at the bottom and sides of the door should be checked regularly, and change necessary parts if you see:
- Cracks
- Gaps
- Hardening
- Light passing through
This is not an expensive replacement. But, it will improve the insulation and prevent loss of energy.
5. Schedule for Maintenance
You must call and make a schedule to a professional garage door maintenance once a year, to make sure that your garage door is safe and efficient to use.
What can a professional technician do?
- Make necessary spring tension adjustments
- Inspect the cable for integrity
- Verify the opener force setting
- Inspect hard-to-reach areas for wear
6. Schedules on Maintaining Your Garage Door
- Monthly: Visual or Manual Inspection (for homeowners)
- Every 3 to 6 Months: Lubrication and Hardware Check
- Annually: Professional Inspection and Tune-Up
Curious how much your maintenance routine actually affects longevity? Our lifespan guide puts a number to it.
Comparing Maintenance Costs vs. Replacement Costs
Let’s break it down logically.
1. Maintenance Costs (Low Cost)
Maintenance is relatively not expensive because you would only purchase:
- Lubricant
- Cleaning supplies
- Minor hardware replacement
- Annual professional tune-up
2. Replacement Costs (Expensive)
Depending on the materials used, any kinds of replacement is highly expensive it can run into thousands of dollars just to replace certain damaged parts or the garage door itself. Hence, regular maintenance helps to prevent expensive replacement.
These are the parts or system of the garage door that are highly expensive when it needs replacement:
- Full replacement of the spring
- New opener system
- Panel replacement
- Complete new garage door installation
Small Maintenance and Big Savings
Your garage door is a significant mechanical system that offers security and convenience to your home.
While ignoring garage door maintenance may seem harmless at first, but small problems will quickly grows quickly into expensive garage door repair issues.
The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance
The advantages of regular garage door maintenance include the following:
- Avoids expensive garage door repair
- Extends the lifespan of garage door components
- Saves energy
- Ensures the safety of your family
- Less stress on the garage door opener
- Saves money
By spending a small amount of money and time on garage door maintenance, you will save money and ensure the safety of your family.
If you have not inspected your garage door lately, the best time to start is now.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your garage door is a small price to pay for the significant financial rewards it offers. Not only will regular garage door maintenance save you money in the long run, but it will also save you money now.
Don’t wait until you need to shell out a fortune to repair your garage door before you start taking steps to maintain it properly. The small steps you take today will save you from the huge expenses you will face in the future.
You can also check this guide on how to maintain your garage door to save money and review a garage door service checklist to understand the key points of every inspection, including tasks you can do yourself and those that a technician should handle.