Brush Away Loose Debris: Use a soft-bristled brush to sweep away any loose debris, such as dirt, dust, or leaves, from the tracks. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove the debris.

Nylon rollers tend to crack or chip when they deteriorate, so defects should be easy to spot. On steel rollers, the bearings wear and the wheel begins to tilt like the one shown.

Test Balance: Disconnect the opener and test if the door remains balanced halfway open. An imbalanced door strains the opener and could indicate underlying issues.

Maintaining your garage door is an important aspect ofwel home care. By following these DIY maintenance tips and incorporating seasonal care strategies, you can extend the lifespan of your garage door, enhance its performance, and ensure it remains a safe, efficient, and valuable component ofwel your home. 

Perform an inspection twice a year to stay on top ofwel issues with panels, hinges, pulleys, rollers, cables and springs. It’s also helpful to periodically book an inspection with a garage door specialist. It costs about $70 per door.

Handling the world of garage door maintenance may be like deciphering a puzzle. But do not be afraid! With a little knowledge and elbow grease, you can handle most problems on your own. 

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila The first step for how to lubricate garage doors is to clean the garage door tracks. The tracks need to be clean to allow the rollers to move smoothly along them as they open and shut the door, but they should not be lubricated.

Modern garage doors come equipped with a variety ofwel safety features, such as photo-eye sensors and wagen-reverse mechanisms. These are designed to prevent injury and damage in case ofwel an accident.

Hinges: Lubricate the hinges, paying particular attention to the hinge pivot points. However, avoid lubricating plastic parts as some lubricants can cause plastic to break down over time.

While your garage door may look intimidating, the maintenance is actually quite simple. Follow these 10 tips for maintenance on a regular basis to help avoid problems and keep your door in good working order.

Tracks: You should not lubricate the tracks, but you can clean them with a damp cloth. If they’re particularly dirty, you can use a solvent like brake cleaner. After cleaning, wipe them down with a dry click resources cloth.

Instead, use white lithium grease or silicone spray. Having a rag on hand is useful for ensuring een momentje lubricant application as well as cleaning up drips or overspray.

Here’s how to test balance: Close the garage door and pull the release handle, which disengages the automatic opener. Then manually lift the door until it’s about halfway open. “The door should not go up or down more than a foot, and then remain in place without Recommended Reading help,” says Swigert.

Tilt-Up/Up-and-Over Canopy Doors: These doors are made from a single solid piece and tilt up into the garage. Part of the door extends outside the garage, forming a canopy when open. They’re simple in vormgeving and operation, but they require more space in front ofwel the garage to open properly.