The lifespan of your garage door is directly related to the level of maintenance you invest into it.
How Long Does A Garage Door Typically Last?
The reliability of a garage door is something that is taken for granted by nearly all homeowners, who expect the door to operate perfectly for a lifetime. Knowing how long your roof will last, or the expected lifespan of the hot water system is generally common knowledge, but how long should your garage door realistically last? Through proper maintenance, you can expect your door to last a minimum of 15 years.
While the warranties offered by manufacturers vary, it is typical to receive a 12-month warranty on your garage door. This coincides with the timeline of when your door is due for its first service. The lifespan of your door will depend on factors including daily usage, construction and door quality, maintenance and local climate. With these considerations in mind, most doors will last 15 to 30 years.
Does A Garage Door Require Maintenance?
Opening and closing your garage door daily is second nature, but how often have you thought about maintaining it? Like many other appliances within your home, your garage door requires regular maintenance to ensure it continues operating efficiently for as long as possible.
As a blanket rule, you should aim to inspect your garage door at least twice per year. Keeping a maintenance schedule like this allows minor repairs to be tackled before they escalate into disastrous faults. If you’re having issues with your garage door that you’re unable to solve by yourself, get in contact with a garage door technician, like the expert team at Jims Garage Doors, to lend a hand.
Factors Impacting Garage Door Lifespan
A number of factors, such as local environment, daily usage and quality of the product impact on your garage doors lifespan.
Weather / Environment
Dependent on where you live and the local climate in that area, your garage door may experience damages related to storms, floods or alternative environmental factors.
Usage
The type of springs utilised on your garage door determines how many cycles your door is suited for. The higher the usage, the closer you get to the end of the cycles, and in turn the shorter the lifespan is.
Door Quality
Purchasing a high-quality door from a trusted retailer gives you the greatest chance at garage door longevity. Typically, the more you spend on a door, the better the quality and the longer it will last.
Tips to Prolong the Lifespan of Your Garage Door
Prolonging the lifespan of your garage door is worth the effort. Here are some tips you can implement yourself to maximise your garage door:
Assess Safety Features
There are various safety features on your garage door including an emergency release rope, motion sensors and reverse functionality that exist to prevent injury and property damage. You can test the sensors by placing a wooden block in the door’s path before closing it. The door should reverse when it detects something in the way. To check the emergency cord’s operation, simply pull it and make sure you can move the door manually – once checked, ensure to place the cord back in place.
Inspect Your Door’s Hardware
Your garage door utilises various screws, springs, cables, pulleys, nuts and bolts that hold it together. Over time, these components can loosen or wear out, highlighting the importance of checking and tightening hardware every few months. Biannually it is recommended to check for any cracked, warped, frayed or worn parts – if the springs or cables are showing signs of damage, contact us for help!
Test Your Doors Balance
Testing your garage door’s balance involves detaching it from the opener and manually moving it along the tracks. To achieve this, release the door from the opener using the emergency release rope and open the door halfway. If the door is balanced, it will stay in place once you let go. If the door falls from this position, it is imbalanced and you need to call a technician. Testing your doors balance is a task you can complete yourself but fixing it will require the assistance of a professional.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Lubricating moving parts places less stress on the garage door opener and aids in prolonging its lifespan. It is recommended to lubricate moving parts such as rollers and hinges at least twice a year. You can lubricate the rollers by placing a drop of lubricant on each one, the rolling action will pull it onto the bearings. It’s best to avoid using grease on the rollers as it will attract dirt which can clog the tracks.
Lubricate the hinges that hold the door panels together by applying a spray lubricant, wiping away the excess with a clean cloth. Finally, the opener’s chain should be lubricated to ensure it operates smoothly.
It is important to consult the owner’s manual of your garage door prior to applying any lubricants to see if there is a specific lubricant recommended or any parts that do not need to be oiled.
Monitor Door Cables
Your garage door utilises cables to lift the door when you click the button on the remote. These cables connect to the opener and must be strong enough to successfully lift the door without breaking. If a cable breaks, the door could fall potentially causing harm to property or someone in your household.
How Do You Know When To Replace Your Garage Door?
It can be difficult to know when your door has fulfilled its operational lifespan, but there are a number of factors that can be taken into consideration before you decide the replace your garage door.
Unusual Sounds
Strange sounds generally indicate that something isn’t quite right with your door. Grinding, squeaking and rattling sounds are a good sign that a garage door technician should be contacted. Your door may need some standard maintenance and lubrication, but it may also mean that it needs replacing. It is better to be proactive in this situation and get a technician to inspect it as soon as possible.
Uneven Lifting
Uneven lifting of your door could be a sensor issue, or it could be caused by worn out springs. If the springs are the issue, you’ll need to replace them immediately to ensure the safety and function of your garage door.
Irregular Speeds
Irregular speeds are generally caused by the garage door opener, but it is recommended to get the entire door examined by a professional to find the cause. Irregular opening and closing speeds are extremely inconvenient and can signal that a larger issue is at hand. In this case, you may be forced to replace or repair the opener, or the entire door to correct the fault.
How Can Jims Garage Doors Help Me?
With a specialised team of skilled technicians, Jims Garage Doors are well versed to assist you with all your garage door needs. From installations, maintenance, servicing and repairs on all makes and models of door, we are your one stop garage door store for residential, commercial and industrial projects!
We stock an extensive range of products and accessories from all leading brands giving you the freedom and flexibility to choose a door that suits your home to perfection. If you’re in need of garage door services, look no further than the team at Jims Garage Doors – get in touch today!