18 January 2021
You have just had a new garage door installed on your home, and its quiet and smooth operation is music to your ears. Often, it’s the little things in life that provide the greatest satisfaction. Did you know that there is a very easy way to lengthen that satisfaction while extending the durability of your investment?
Properly Maintain Your Garage Door will protect its appearance and help keep it running smoothly for years to come. On the other hand, a poorly maintained door can cause inconveniences such as rust, noise and squeaking, and even accidents in extreme cases. These are all headaches that are easily avoided by following a few simple steps that do not necessarily require expensive products or professional help.Whether old or new, do not wait to spruce up your garage door! Here is all the information you need to perform the proper maintenance on your garage door today.
The Right Maintenance Products to Maintain Your Garage Door and Get The Results You Want
Rest assured that you are using the right products for optimal results with the Garex Maintenance Kit. This kit includes hardware lubricant, weatherstripping lubricant and panel wax.
Maintaining The Hardware of Your Garage Door
All the moving parts of your garage door should be lubricated twice a year. You will need a can of Garex garage door lubricant and have a piece of cardboard handy to limit product splatter.
1. Lubricate the hinges and rollers.
The goal is to lubricate the swivel junction of the hinges to keep it working properly, as well as the spots where the rollers are inserted into the hinges.
2. Lubricate the tracks.
For a smooth, quiet, and flawless operation, apply hardware lubricant on the inside of the tracks where the rollers circulate.
3. Lubricate the spring(s).
To limit splatter, insert a piece of cardboard between the wall and the spring before spraying the lubricant on the entire surface of the spring(s).
Lubricating the spring(s) reduces friction between the spindle rings and extends the service life of the spring(s).
Check the state of the hinges, rollers, bolts and track brackets. If you notice any irregularities, contact a garage door maintenance and installation specialist immediately.
Maintaining The Weatherstripping of The Frame And Between The Panels
We recommend lubricating all weatherstripping about twice a year. You will need a can of Garex weatherstripping lubricant along with a small bucket, lukewarm water, mild soap, and a sponge or soft cloth. If you want, you can also use a shammy for easy cleaning because it can absorb large amounts of liquid and wipe your door efficiently without leaving any marks.
4. Clean and lubricate the weatherstripping.
First, wash the weatherstripping with mild soap and dry it off with a soft cloth to protect its appearance and flexibility.
Then, use a silicone-based weatherstripping lubricant, like the one offered by Garex. Never use a petroleum-based lubricant. Apply the lubricant on the inner and outer surfaces of the weatherstripping. This step is necessary to maintain the flexibility of the PVC blades, thus limiting air infiltrations.
Perimeter weatherstripping plays a crucial role in plugging leaks in your garage door. Beyond preventing air and humidity from coming in both in winter and summer, perimeter weatherstripping blocks the passage of dust, insects and nasty rodents.
For more information on how to maintain and replace them if necessary, check out our article Demystifying perimeter weatherstripping: how to choose, maintain and replace it.
Maintaining The Surface of Your Garage Door
Finally, we recommend that you clean the surface of your garage door at least once a year. You will need a can of Garex garage door wax along with a small bucket, lukewarm water, mild soap, a sponge or soft cloth, and, if you like, a shammy to wipe down the surface of your garage door.
5. Wash and dry the surface of your garage door.
Clean the surface of the garage door with lukewarm water and mild soap using a sponge or soft cloth. Avoid using strong cleaning products that could damage the paint.
Dry the surface of the door with a shammy or allow it to air dry.
6. Coat your garage door with Garex wax.
Applying a coat of Garex wax on the surface of your door will keep it clean longer and protect the corrections made to the varnish if that is the case. In addition, a coat of wax will give a beautiful glossy shine to your door and help protect the paint from UV rays, which tend to tarnish it.
Spray the Garex wax about 10 to 15 cm from your garage door surface.
Use a soft cloth to spread the wax and shine your garage door.
IF IN DOUBT, TRUST A GAREX EXPERT
Congratulations! Your door is now ready for the next season! All of its components have been maintained to ensure the optimal operation of your garage door.
However, we have a few more tips for you, like making sure to verify your garage operator on a quarterly basis. A garage door must be perfectly balanced. If it is unbalanced or struggles to open, never try to adjust the springs, the bottom hinges or the lifting cables yourself for your own safety. Instead, ask a qualified Garex garage door installer for his professional opinion.
Also, be sure to check the various safety detectors. A garage door must automatically reverse in its tracks if an object or a person is in its path. If you notice any anomalies, immediately contact a garage door installation specialist.
Lastly, although we have provided a simple method to maintain your garage door, you may also hire a qualified installer to do an annual checkup of your garage door. Do not hesitate to call one of our experts at Garex to guide you to an installer near you.
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