Your garage door not only adds to your home's curb appeal but also provides safety and protection. A well-maintained garage door can increase your home's value and prevent costly repairs. Neglecting your garage door, however, can lead to safety hazards and expensive repairs. While it is not difficult for a homeowner to maintain their garage door, it will require them to perform a handful of routine tasks.

Test The Manual Release Handle

Your garage door's manual release handle is a crucial safety feature that allows you to open the door manually during emergencies such as power outages. Testing this feature regularly ensures that it will work when you need it the most.

To test the manual release handle, close the garage door and lift it manually to check if you can raise it. If you experience difficulty lifting the door or it fails to stay open, the door may be out of balance and require professional servicing.

Replace Damaged Or Broken Garage Door Panels

Garage door panels can become damaged or broken over time due to accidental damage and storms. Damaged garage door panels not only affect the appearance of your garage door but can also affect its functionality. Replacing damaged or broken garage door panels is a simple task that can improve the overall performance of your garage door.

When replacing damaged garage door panels, be mindful to effectively secure the replacement panel. Unfortunately, failing to fully screw the panel into place can cause it to fail.

Lubricate The Garage Door Opener Railing

Lubricating the garage door opener rail is an essential maintenance task that ensures the smooth operation of your garage door opener. Neglecting this task can cause excess wear and tear on your garage door opener and lead to expensive repairs.

Before lubricating the garage door opener rail, clean the railing with a soft cloth to remove any debris or dust. Use a silicone-based lubricant, and apply it the entire length of the railing, being careful not to apply too much.

Replace Damaged Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping helps to seal your garage door against the elements. This can prevent drafts and keep out pests. Over time, weatherstripping can become damaged. This dramatically lowers its performance, but it can be affordable to replace it. Replacing worn weatherstripping is a simple process that may only take a homeowner a few minutes to complete. After removing the previous weatherstripping, thoroughly clean the surface before applying the new weatherstripping. This will ensure the new adhesive creates a strong bond with it.

To learn more, contact a garage door service in your area.