I never really though about it before it broke, but my garage is one of the better parts of my home. It does what it’s supposed to do, day-in and day-out, over a long period time. I’m talking years here. While other things are constantly breaking around the house, my metal garage door has been through it all and keeps on ticking. And this is with little to no consistent maintence.
And it’s not like garage doors are super simple constructions. There are all these moving parts that move in unison to enable the door to effortless open and close. The springs, tracks, and all of the smaller pieces work together to make this all happen. So it’s important to do some basic maintenance twice a year to make sure everything stays working.
The most important parts to check out are your garage springs. These powerful springs allow you to open the door easily. There are actually two different types: torsion springs and extension springs. Both are incredible dangerous, so be careful when you’re inspecting them. Open the door so that the springs are in their “relaxed” state. Now check for any noticeable cracks.
The next part to check on are your tracks. These are the two things that the door moves along when it’s opening and closing. If there is anything at all wrong with them, it’s going to be tough to open and close your garage. So make sure there is no dirt build up and the tracks are properly lubricated.
Now if you find some dents, don’t worry. They’re really easy to fix. Just grab a mallot and small block of wood and hammer it out. Now just light hammer the dented parts straight and your back in business.
I hope these quick fixes help you in the future if you experience any problems with your garage. But, with proper maintence (cleaning up the dirt build and lubricating all of the moving parts) you really won’t have to worry about anything break for years at a time.
