The responsibilities of home ownership should include, among many other tasks, regular servicing of the furnace and air conditioner. The smooth and effective operation of these major domestic appliances is vital to home comfort and the personal safety of all family members; in fact, many homeowners participate in maintenance plans that incorporate an annual cleaning and preventative check-up along with emergency service visits in the event of a mechanical failure or a potential health hazard.
On an even more frequent basis, these same homeowners will book routine maintenance check-ups for their vehicles; oil/filter changes, parts lubrication, and tire rotations are all part of the auto manufacturers’ recommended preventative maintenance programs that are intended to keep performance and safety at optimal levels and extend the life of the vehicle. Further yet, there are those who purchase extended warranties on large-ticket items such as stoves, refrigerators, and television sets for peace-of-mind replacement or repair protection.
Why is it then, that only a small segment of homeowners have a similar mindset when it comes to garage door maintenance? A garage door is also a large investment in a home both financially and physically (it can represent up to 25-30% of the frontage) and it can be called upon to perform several times a day, every day, just like a car or an appliance. Yet its regular maintenance is frequently overlooked, if not neglected altogether; that is, of course, until something goes wrong – which unfortunately is too often too late.
There are several fundamental yet critically important reasons for homeowners to uphold routine and regular garage door maintenance practices:
- Maximizing Lifecycle
- Optimizing Performance
- Avoiding Unnecessary Costs
- Matters of Safety and Security
The basic steps involved in regular garage door maintenance consist of the following:
- Listening for unusual/peculiar sounds while the door is in motion/operation
- Testing the spring tension – does the door hold steady when partially open?
- Lubricating all moving parts – on the door as well as the garage door opener
- Inspecting all hardware and tightening any screws/nuts and bolts as required
- Checking the rollers for signs of wear, chips, cracks and replacing as needed
- Examining tracks/rails for dents/damage and repairing or replacing right away
- Cleaning (brushing) the cables and observing for any frayed or broken strands
- Inspecting and replacing worn weather stripping (to improve energy efficiency)
- Testing door opener auto-reverse safety mechanisms (photocell and mechanical)
Routine garage door maintenance, done annually or perhaps more often, will be a wise investment of time for both practical and personal reasons. For homeowners who might be uncertain about how to properly complete their own garage door maintenance or, in the vernacular of auto servicing, regular tune-ups, may opt to call upon the insight and expertise of professional garage door service providers such as the team from Markham Garage Doors.
When a Garage Door Replacement is the Best Resolution to Maintenance Issues
In most cases, a garage door tune-up may be sufficient to restore optimal performance for a garage door and extend its lifecycle. There will be times, however, when a routine garage door inspection reveals more serious issues that might best be rectified by a full garage door replacement.
In such cases, homeowners in the market for a new garage door can benefit from a visit to the 1,000+ square foot showroom of Markham Garage Doors, which is located at 176 Bullock Drive, Unit 11, in Markham. Here, homeowners can compare and contrast full-scale garage doors of different styles, materials, and price ranges; in addition, they can gain valuable insight and guidance from onsite garage door specialists to help in making an informed decision on the best solution for their needs and budget.
Markham Garage Doors distributes and installs new and replacement garage doors from all leading North American manufacturers, including:
- Amarr
- H.I.
- Clopay
- Equal
- Haas Doors
- Richards-Wilcox
- Steel-Craft
- Wayne Dalton
See https://markhamgaragedoors.com/services/ for more information on the garage door maintenance and replacement services provided by the Markham Garage Doors team.
For all your garage door maintenance or installation needs, including annual garage door tune-ups or a garage door replacement, call Markham Garage Doors today at either (905) 472-9178 or (416) 570-3667 to request a service appointment, or stop by our showroom at 176 Bullock Drive, Unit 11, in Markham.