It’s probably one of the most important gadgets a homeowner will ever own. Without that remote control in your hands, you’d be getting out of your car in the very worst weather conditions to pull open your garage door manually – every single time! On average, you probably use your opener over a thousand times per year and yet, when it comes to maintaining it, few give it a second thought until it’s too late.
So what exactly can you do to make sure your automatic garage door opener continues to function properly? Have a look below at these five simple exercises that can extend the life of this vital piece of equipment.
- Moisture
A key reason why your garage door opener can go haywire can be too much moisture. Not only will it warp the doors, it will also cause your hardware to rust, paint to fail, and the framing to rot. So when doing a thorough examination of the entire apparatus, be on the look out for any of these issues and if you spot them, locate the source of the water and repair it ASAP.
- Cleanliness
Have you noticed that the door is binding and/or jumping every time you open it? This could be from a buildup of grease and dirt. So as a protective measure, have a look at your tracks and if you see something, wipe it down good with a rag.
- Lubricant
Are you starting to hear squeaky noises every time you open it? That’s because given the wear and tear that your garage door takes, it’s only a matter of time before the pressure builds on your opener. Therefore, a good investment to make is buying garage door lubricant. Applying the lubricant (ideally every three months) on the rollers, hinges, springs, and track will add years to your garage door opener’s life.
- Weatherproofing
Want to know where a large amount of air leaks through? You guessed it – the garage door. If you haven’t weatherproofed your door already, seal the bottom with weather stripping while applying it outside to the top and side jambs. And seal any gaps between the window and the door trim with an exterior caulk.
- Technical maintenance
As the engine that’s powering your automatic garage door opener, the motor should never be ignored when doing an annual maintenance check. A good move would be to replace the batteries in the transmitter every year. Also, with most doors coming with eyes that prevent it from shutting if there any obstructions, run a test to make sure this safety device is working properly since it may save you or a loved one’s life.