Having your garage door serviced regularly by a qualified garage door technician ensures everything works safely and efficiently. As the largest mechanical device in your home, we strongly recommend implementing a preventative maintenance plan for your residential garage door.
Why Is Garage Door Servicing Important?
Similarly to cars, air conditioners or other equipment and machinery, servicing your garage door is the most effective way to prolong its operational life. By maintaining your garage door regularly you can minimise the amount of general wear and tear on the door and its components, helping it to operate smoothly and as expected. Maintaining a service schedule for your garage door also reduces the likelihood of serious damage, emergency garage door repairs and expensive replacements.
Why Should I Service My Garage Door In The First Place?
Servicing your garage door provides more benefits than just saving you money in the long run. A regular maintenance schedule helps to ensure the doors safety for you and your family members or housemates. Garage doors are extremely large and heavy pieces of machinery that can pose a significant health risk when not operating properly. Additionally, some of the door’s components, the door springs for example, are under such a high tension and should be checked regularly to make sure there are no faults or defects that may affect the performance of the door. Routine maintenance for your garage door also helps to prevent the door from failing when you need it most, which causes you a major inconvenience.
How Do I Know When My Door Needs To Be Serviced?
It is recommended homeowners service their garage doors at least once every 1-2 years, however the majority of people do not adhere to this. We have identified some common signs and symptoms indicating a typical residential garage door needs a full service or repair:
Dry and Rusted Springs or Cables
Garage door springs enable the door to open and close with ease and are often regarded as the single most important component in the system. When the springs or cables on the door system start to dry out and rust, the danger of them breaking is dramatically increased. Should the garage door springs or cables break this will leave the door inoperable or jammed causing you a major inconvenience. A quick visual inspection from the technicians at Jims Garage Doors can save you time and money in the long run.
Loud, Unusual Noises When Opening or Closing
If your garage door is making unusual sounds, such as scratching noises, during operation then this may be a sign it is due for a service. A noisy garage door can be the result of no lubricant, a fast build-up of grime or debris in the tracks, or a result of a garage door spring that is not tensioned correctly. Applying the lubricant or cleaning the tracks are tasks you can undertake yourself, however the tensioning of the garage door spring must be done by a qualified technician due to the dangerous tasks involved.
Chain Or Belt Moves But Door Does Not Open / Close
A frequent issue that occurs with many remote controlled electric openers is the motor chain or belt moving but the door does not. This can be the result of the garage door needing to be re-engaged, or it could be a problem with the garage door opener motor itself. Providing you feel comfortable, you can re-engage the door yourself by following steps in the owner’s manual. Alternatively, the qualified service technicians at Jims Garage Doors can assist you with re-engagement or garage door opener issues.
Door Opening Unexpectedly
If you encounter garage door opening unexpectedly after closing, this may be a sign the motor and other components need inspecting by a qualified service technician. If your garage door stays open, or ‘bounces’ open after closing it is recommended the door is serviced before it is used again for safety reasons.
Visible Damage To Components
You can personally inspect some of the components of your garage door to see if there are visible signs of damage. Signs to look out for include:
- Cracks in the hinges
- Loose wheels
- Noisy end bearings
Most homeowners don’t realise if any of these indications are present, the integrity of your garage door may be compromised. It is recommended you engage a garage door specialist for professional help, to double check your system immediately.
Benefits of Garage Door Servicing
Numerous benefits for homeowners can be derived from regular maintenance of your garage door.
Family & Home Security
A garage door that won’t close is one of the most common issues caused by service neglect, leaving your home vulnerable to intruders and crime.
Regular garage door maintenance not only helps to maintain the system but also mitigates safety concerns by securing your home. A functioning garage door gives you peace of mind your family and household belongings are protected around the clock.
Preventing Safety Hazards
Periodic servicing of your garage door aids in preventing it from becoming a safety hazard for you and your family. If you notice your door isn’t operating as it should, or has come off the tracks then you will need to contact a garage door specialist. It is strongly recommended you do not try to fix these issues yourself.
Avoid Inflicting Unnecessary Repair Costs
Regular servicing helps to minimise the amount of money you spend long term. By fixing small issues as they arise and before they become major issues, will prevent your need to pay for repair or replacement expenses. It is important to not overlook the warning signs of a weakened garage door as a homeowner. If you do need repair services, the team at Jims Garage Doors is always happy to assist.
Prolong The Lifespan Of Your Garage Door
Regular maintenance of your garage door is one of the best ways to extend its operational lifespan. Components like the motor and springs need to be regularly checked to ensure they are in working order. Garage doors are an important asset to your home, so it is imperative you maintain it accordingly.
What Can I Do Myself To Maintain My Garage Door?
It is recommended all major servicing and garage door repairs are conducted by a trained professional, however there are some small things you can do personally that aid in garage door maintenance:
- Washing the door
- Applying anti-rust agents to exposed parts & springs
- Clearing dust, grime & debris from the tracks
- Lubricating various moving parts with garage door lubricant
How Can Jims Garage Doors Help Me?
Jims Garage Doors are service specialists who can assess, repair, and maintain your garage door and its components. With over 35 years of technical experience and knowledge, the team at Jims Garage Doors is well equipped to carry out any maintenance or servicing on your garage doors. We provide prompt service on all major brands across the Perth Metro area and Greater Peel region. If you’re in need of garage door services, look no further than the team at Jims. Get in touch today!