As you’re going down your fall season home maintenance checklist, making sure you’ve got your home covered inside and out, double check that your garage door is on that list. Why? Well, like the windows and doors in your home, a garage door is also an opening to the exterior, and a big one at that. If it’s not in good shape, cold air and rain can get into the garage, then into your house through shared doors, or worse, destroy things you have stored in the garage.
Without further ado, here are a few maintenance tips to get your residential garage doors in Rancho Cordova, CA ready for fall.
Clean the tracks
While cleaning out the garage door tracks is a seasonal must-do, it’s imperative that you do clean them every fall because of what summer leaves behind. Dust, dirt, pollen, dried foliage, spider webs and other organic matter accumulate in the tracks over the summer months—remove small debris with a vacuum nozzle. And there’s no need to worry about using a wet cleaner unless something gooey has formed.
Inspect the seals and all moving parts
Typically, you can visually inspect garage door seals and weather stripping without the need to get up on a ladder. Make sure rubber seals are snug between the floor and the door, and between the doorframe and the door—no gaps, cracks or missing material. And while it’s best to leave diagnosing issues with moving parts to the experts, still go ahead and visually inspect the system while it’s in motion.
Look at the door and tracks with a level
It’s important that your garage door and tracks are level to avoid having to replace the entire door or system. Tracks tend to warp with age, but if you hang things from them or bang something heavy against them, tracks can bend. The door is also liable to take a beating from kids playing ball against it or riding their bikes into it, and even high winds can be damaging. Consider calling in the professionals to use a carpenter’s level to ensure the integrity of your garage door system.
Check the remote batteries and motor
Even if your garage door remote control batteries are still working, it’s good practice to exchange the current batteries for new ones at the beginning of each season. This simple move can save you from having to get out of your vehicle to manually open and close the door on chilly or wet fall days. As for the motor, step back and look for exposed wires, other electrical components or leaks, even damage inflicted or nests made by curious wildlife. A professional inspection every fall can determine if any repairs to the motor are needed.
While you, the homeowner, can perform many of these maintenance steps yourself, you must take care when it comes to safety. For the most thorough inspection and professional repairs to residential garage doors in Rancho Cordova, CA, schedule an appointment with the team at Action Door Service this fall.