After living an apartment where most maintenance tasks were covered, there are lots of surprises that come with buying your first home. While you've likely covered how to winterize your pipes and prep your lawn for spring, people often overlook one of the most important aspects of their home's security. Your garage door provides one of the largest entrances to your home, and it helps protect your car and other valued property from theft and inclement weather. Take care of your fortress's biggest shield by performing these basic maintenance steps for residential garage doors.
Inspect For Visible Damage
Garage doors are designed to withstand a great deal of wear and tear. However, any mechanical device can sustain damage, especially when it is exposed to things such as weather and heavy machinery such as your car. Therefore, you should examine your garage door for visible damage every two months. Check the tracks for dents or flat spots that interfere with the door's movement, and inspect the hardware to see if any nuts or bolts need to be tightened up. If you notice any parts that are broken, then repair them with the appropriate garage door replacement parts.
Lubricate the Moving Parts
Making sure that your moving garage door parts are lubricated allows for seamless movement that generates less wear on the springs and rollers. However, it is important to make sure that you use an appropriate lubricant since the wrong kind will collect dust and dirt that can break your garage door. Once you procure the correct lubricant from a garage door specialist, use it to coat the chain and spring along with any other metal parts that come in contact with each other during operation.
Test the Safety Reversal System
Protecting your family and anyone else who visits your property from injury is one of your biggest responsibilities as a new homeowner. Today, the safety of garage doors has increased with the use of reversal systems that stop the door from coming down on people who inadvertently step under it during operation. Check your safety reversal system by simply placing a piece of wood on the threshold of your door. For mechanical systems, it should raise up as soon as it comes in contact with the wood. On newer photoelectric systems, it should refuse to close immediately upon sensing an object in the way. If your garage door fails this test, contact a specialist immediately who can restore this essential safety feature.
Home maintenance can truly take up a lot of time when you are still learning how to work out your routine. By adding your garage door to the list, you can protect the security and safety of your home and family. Visit websites like http://aladdindoorsraleigh.com/ to learn more.
