Quarterly Garage Door Maintenance Checklist

About every three months, or four times a year, you should run through this simple garage door maintenance check list in order to keep your garage door functioning correctly and without any problems.

Clean Out The Door Track

The first thing you should do when you start your quarterly garage maintenance list is clean out the garage door track. The garage door track is the surface that your garage door runs on in order to open and close. It runs the entire length of your garage door, from where it rests on the ground to where it rests when it is open. 

Over time, dead bugs as well as other dirt and debris can accumulate in your garage door track. This can prevent your garage door from opening and closing smoothly. In order to clean your garage door track, all you need is a few damp clothes that have been dipped in some warm water and dish soap. Squeeze out the cloths and use the cloths to wipe away anything that is inside of your garage door track. Make sure you clean all sides of your garage door track. Once you are done cleaning the track, run over it with a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture and water. 

Pressure Wash The Door

The next thing you should do is use a pressure washer, or just use your regular garden hose, to spray down the inside and outside of your garage door. Dirt and dust can accumulate on the inside and outside of your garage door, and it needs to be removed. 

It should only take you about five minutes per side to pressure wash your garage door. This maintenance step can be skipped in the winter if it is too cold outside for you to wash your garage door. 

Wash The Windows

After you pressure wash the inside and outside of the door, you should wash any windows that are located on your garage door. All you need to do this is some regular window cleaning solution, a squeegee and some paper towels. This will keep your garage door looking nice and clean year round. 

Lubricate All Moving Parts

After your garage door has dried off, you'll want to lubricate all the moving parts. You will want to purchase a silicone or lithium lubrication spray for this step.  Make sure you lubricate the:

• Chain 
• Stems
• Hinges
• Metal Rollers
• Ball Bearings
• Arm Bar
• Lock

By proactively lubricating all the moving parts of your garage door, you will prevent  your door from becoming squeaky, and you will prevent other issues from developing as well. 

Install And Check The Weather Stripping

If you currently do not have a weather seals installed around your garage door, you should purchase one at your local home improvement store. You should install weather seals around:

• the bottom edge of your garage door
• the space between each panel on your garage door
• the entire outside frame of your garage door

A weather strip can help:

• regulate the temperate in your garage
• prevent unwanted moisture from entering your garage

After you install your weather stripping, make sure you check it quarterly and ensure that it is staying in the right place. If it has become loose you will need to re-secure it. You may also want to use a damp cloth to clean the weather seals and remove any debris that could be preventing the seals from working as effectively as possible. 

By completing the checklist above quarterly, you will keep your garage door looking good and in good working order. It should take you less than an hour to run through this maintenance list, but by keeping up on these issues, you should be able to keep your garage door working smoothly.