Dirt and grime are some of the worst enemies to your garage door. Letting it get and stay dirty will cause a lot of issues that can easily be prevented by spraying the door down with the hose every now and again. This is especially important after heavy winds, as this can cause a great deal of dirt to build up on the door and in the tracks.
Grease the Hinges
Just like any other door or motor in your ownership, you will need to keep your garage door well lubricated. A little bit of grease can go a long way to adding years to the life of your door and opener motor. Keep an ear on alert to hear when there are changes in the way the motor runs or the wheels glide on the tracks so you will know when and where extra greasing is needed.
Don't Leave It Partially Open
It can be convenient to leave the garage door partially open for things like cooling down the interior or letting a painted craft air out. This, however, is not something that you should do on a regular basis. This causes the weight of the door to rest on the motor and hinges rather than on the grid at the top or the ground on the bottom. This can also leave the door prey to gusts of wind that can tear away at the door or damage the tracks because of the movement.
Test the Balance
If the balance of the door on the tracks is off, then the motor will have to work harder to complete the work of opening and closing it. Testing the balance is rather simple. If you can see that the balance is off, then you will want to call in some professionals to repair it. This is a small adjustment that can bring about a lot of big advantages for you.
Handle Problems
ImmediatelyWhen you can see that your door is not performing as it should, it is important for you to call in professionals to diagnose and handle the problem as soon as possible. The longer you wait to have a small problem fixed, the bigger the problem will become. Handling small issues will be a lot more cost-effective than having to fix a big problem, or even replace the entire door due to large issues. If you have a hunch that your door is having troubles, don't wait to get it professionally handled.