Introduction

Importance and functions of garage doors in daily life

Garage doors are a common yet important part of a home. It is not only the entrance to the garage but also plays an important role in protecting the safety of the vehicle and home. Here are the importance and functions of garage doors in daily life:

Keep your vehicle safe:

Your garage door is your first line of defense against theft and damage. It prevents uninvited guests from entering the garage and protects the vehicle from harsh weather and other external factors.

Increased home security:

Garage doors not only protect your vehicle but also your family members. Garage doors reduce a home's risk of break-ins and other crimes by preventing intruders from entering the garage.

Improves the appearance of your home:

The garage door is an important part of the appearance of your home. A well-designed garage door can add to the beauty of your home, boosting its overall value and appeal.

Offers Convenience:

Garage doors that open and close automatically provide great convenience. Car owners can easily control their garage door via a remote control or smartphone app without having to get out of their car.

Increased living comfort:

A well-maintained garage door can effectively prevent heat and cold air from entering the garage, improve the comfort inside the garage, and help save energy.

Overview of the importance and step-by-step checklist of summer garage door maintenance

The impact of summer on your garage door cannot be ignored. High temperatures and humidity may cause wear and failure of your garage door. Therefore, regular summer garage door maintenance is crucial. This article will detail the importance of summer garage door maintenance and provide a clear list of maintenance steps to help car owners ensure their garage doors stay in good condition during the summer months.

Why is summer garage door maintenance important?

The high temperatures and humidity of summer have a variety of effects on garage doors, including:

Expansion and Contraction:

High temperatures can cause the metal components on your garage door to expand, potentially causing the door to operate poorly or become stuck. Conversely, when temperatures drop at night, these components shrink back to their original size, potentially causing the door to become asymmetrical or unbalanced.

Lubrication problems:

High temperatures and humidity can cause lubricants to evaporate or lose quickly, causing increased friction in the moving parts of the garage door, damaging components, and reducing the door's opening and closing efficiency.

Aging of sealing strips:

High temperature and humidity will accelerate the aging and corrosion of garage door sealing strips, causing the sealing strips to harden, crack, or fall off, thus affecting the door's sealing performance.

Electric system failure:

High temperature and humidity may cause the wires in the garage door's electric system to age and be damaged, or even cause circuit failure, affecting the normal operation of the garage door.

Metal Parts Corrosion:

Humidity can make the metal parts on your garage door more susceptible to oxidation and corrosion, reducing their durability and lifespan.

In summary, the high temperatures and humidity of summer can have a variety of adverse effects on your garage door, so regular summer care and maintenance are crucial to ensure the proper operation and longevity of your garage door.

The importance of regular summer maintenance for garage doors cannot be underestimated. It can not only extend the service life of the garage door but also reduce breakdowns and improve safety. The following emphasizes the importance of regular maintenance in summer:

Extended lifespan:

The high temperatures and humidity of summer put a lot of stress on your garage door. Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your garage door by helping to clean and lubricate the various parts of the door and reduce expansion and contraction caused by high temperatures.

Reduce breakdowns:

The high temperatures and humidity of summer can easily cause damage and wear to various parts of your garage door. Regular maintenance can detect and repair potential problems in time, reduce failures caused by aging and wear, and ensure the normal operation of the garage door.

Improve safety:

Summer maintenance can also improve the safety performance of the garage door and reduce the occurrence of accidents. By checking and adjusting the door balance, cleaning and lubricating moving parts, and checking the electric system, you can ensure the door operates smoothly, avoid accidental closing or jamming, and improve the safety of the garage door.

Therefore, regular maintenance in summer can not only ensure the normal operation of the garage door, but also extend its service life, reduce failures, and improve safety. It is recommended that car owners perform regular maintenance in the summer and take corresponding maintenance measures based on the actual condition of the garage door and the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure that the garage door is always in the best condition.

Summer Garage Door Maintenance Step Checklist

Clean facades and tracks

The first step on your list of summer garage door care steps is to clean the door and tracks using warm water and mild detergent. This step is critical because dust, dirt, or corrosion on the door surface and tracks can affect the proper operation of the garage door and increase the risk of door wear and failure. Therefore, regular cleaning of the facade and tracks is an important step to ensure the long-term use of the garage door.

Here are the steps for cleaning facades and tracks:

1. Prepare warm water and a mild detergent. Avoid using cleaners that are too strong to avoid damage to the facade and tracks.

2. Use a damp cloth or sponge dipped in the cleaning solution and gently wipe the door and track surfaces. Pay special attention to cleaning the inside and outside of the door tracks to ensure the tracks are clear of obstructions.

3. If there is stubborn dirt or corrosion on the door or track, you can use a soft-bristled brush or cotton cloth dipped in cleaning fluid for deep cleaning.

4. Once cleaning is complete, rinse the door and tracks thoroughly with clean water to ensure the cleaner is completely removed.

5. Use a dry cloth or absorbent paper towel to dry the facade and tracks to avoid residual water stains.

6. Regularly check the facade and tracks for new dust, dirt, or corrosion and clean them promptly.

By cleaning the facade and tracks regularly, you can keep them clean and in good condition, extend the life of your garage door, and ensure the door operates properly.

Lubricate moving parts

The second step in summer garage door maintenance is to use a special door lubricant to lubricate the moving parts of the garage door, such as rollers, tracks, etc. This step is important because lubrication reduces friction and wear, keeps the door running smoothly, and extends the life of the door.

Here are the steps to lubricate the moving parts of your garage door:

1. Choose the right lubricant. For metal parts, silicone or lithium-based grease is recommended. For plastic or rubber parts, choose a lubricant that will not corrode or damage these materials.

2. Apply lubricant to the door's rollers, tracks, and other moving parts. Make sure the lubricant is evenly distributed and covers the entire component surface.

3. Be careful when using lubricants to avoid dripping lubricants on the ground or vehicle to avoid unnecessary contamination and damage.

4. Operate the door a few times to allow the lubricant to fully lubricate all moving parts.

5. Check the lubricant condition regularly and add or replace lubricant as necessary.

By regularly lubricating the moving parts of your garage door, you can reduce friction and wear, keep the door running smoothly, and extend the life of the door. Therefore, it is recommended that car owners pay attention to the lubrication step in summer maintenance to ensure that the garage door is always in the best condition.

To ensure smooth operation of your garage door and reduce friction and wear, in addition to regularly lubricating the moving parts of the door, you can also take the following measures:

1. Adjust door balance: Test whether the door is balanced using the door's manual operating system (if available). If the door is unbalanced, the springs or other components may need to be adjusted to ensure the door opens and closes smoothly.

2. Clean Tracks and Rollers: Regularly clean the tracks and rollers of dirt and debris to keep them running smoothly. Tracks and rollers can be wiped with warm water and mild detergent and dried with a dry cloth.

3. Check door alignment: Make sure the door is properly aligned on the track to avoid skewing or jamming. If problems are found, the door's position or track may need to be adjusted.

4. Check the electric system: If your garage door is electric, regularly check that the electric system's wires, sensors, and switches are functioning properly. This ensures smooth automatic opening and closing of the door.

5. Repair or replace worn parts: Regularly check various parts of the door, such as springs, rollers, seals, etc. If wear or damage is found, repair or replace it in time to reduce friction and wear.

Through the above measures, you can ensure the smooth opening and closing action of the garage door, reduce friction and wear, extend the service life of the door, and improve safety. It is recommended that car owners pay attention to these details during summer maintenance to ensure the normal operation of the garage door.

Check door balance and alignment

Manually testing the balance of your garage door is one of the important steps in maintaining your garage door to ensure that the door opens and closes smoothly. Here are the steps to manually test your garage door balance:

1. Close the door: First, completely close the garage door and make sure it is completely sealed to the ground.

2. Unlock the power system: If your garage door has a power system, disconnect the power first to ensure the door does not activate accidentally.

3. Manual operation: Stand on the inside of the garage door and try to open the door by gently pulling the door handle or pushing the bottom of the door. The door should open smoothly without resistance or unusual friction.

4. Stop test: When the door is opened halfway, release the door and let it stop in the middle position. If the door stays in this position rather than closing or opening rapidly, the door is well-balanced.

5. Close the door: Close the door completely again by hand. During the closing process, observe that the door closes smoothly with no signs of friction or sticking.

6. Repeat the test: If the door is found to be abnormal during testing, the door's springs or other components may need to be adjusted. It is recommended that this test be carried out regularly to ensure that the door is always well-balanced.

By manually testing the balance of your garage door, potential problems can be identified and resolved promptly, ensuring smooth operation and safety of the door. If you're not sure how to manually test your garage door's balance or how to adjust door components, contact a professional garage door repairman for inspection and maintenance.

Adjusting the alignment of your garage door is one of the most important steps in maintaining your garage door. It ensures that the door moves correctly on the track and avoids skewing or getting stuck. Here are the steps to adjust your garage door alignment:

1. Check alignment: First, close the garage door and carefully check the door's position on the track. Make sure the door is evenly spaced on the track and shows no signs of skew or tilt.

2. Loosen the screws: Locate the screws on the door track that attach the door to the door and use a wrench or torque wrench to gently loosen the screws. This will allow you to move the door slightly to adjust its alignment.

3. Adjust the door's position: Gently push or pull the door so it moves on the track. If the door is crooked or tilted, you can slightly adjust the door's position so it's more aligned on the track.

4. Fixing screws: After adjusting the door's position, retighten the screws attached to the door. Make sure the screws are tight and avoid over-tightening to avoid damaging the door components.

5. Test door operation: Retest door operation to make sure the door moves smoothly when opening and closing, without rubbing or binding.

6. Adjust other parts: If your door is still having issues with skewing or tilting, you may need to adjust other parts, such as the rollers or tracks. It is recommended to contact a professional garage door repairman for inspection and maintenance.

By regularly adjusting the alignment of your garage door, you can ensure that the door moves correctly on the track and avoid skewing or getting stuck, ensuring the smooth operation and safety of your garage door.

Check the door seal

Checking whether the bottom and side seals of the garage door are intact is one of the important steps in maintaining the garage door to ensure the door's sealing performance and sound insulation effect. Here are the steps to check the seal:

1. Check the bottom seal: First, carefully inspect the door's bottom seal to make sure it is intact and not worn, cracked, or peeling off. Damage to the bottom seal can lead to air and water leakage at the bottom of the door.

2. Check the side seals: Next, check the side seals of the door, especially the part near the floor. Make sure the side seals fit snugly between the door and wall and are not loose or damaged.

3. Clean the sealing strip: If you find dust or dirt on the sealing strip, you can use warm water and a neutral detergent to gently clean the surface of the sealing strip, and wipe it dry with a dry cloth.

4. Replace the sealing strip: If the bottom or side sealing strip is found to be damaged or worn, it is recommended to replace the sealing strip in time to ensure the door's sealing performance and sound insulation effect.

5. Regular inspection: Regularly check the status of the sealing strip and perform maintenance or replacement as necessary to ensure its effectiveness.

By regularly checking the bottom and side seals of the door, you can ensure the door's sealing performance and sound insulation effect, improve the comfort of using the garage door, and prevent dust and moisture from the external environment from entering the garage.

When the garage door seal is found to be worn or damaged, it is very important to replace it promptly. Here are a few reasons why prompt replacement of seals is crucial:

1. Prevent hot air and moisture from entering your garage: One of the primary functions of weatherstripping is to prevent hot air, moisture, and dust from entering your garage. If the sealing strip is worn or damaged, the sealing performance will be reduced, allowing hot air and moisture to easily penetrate the garage, affecting the comfort and air quality inside the car.

2. Keeps the interior of your garage dry and clean: The intact performance of your seal helps keep the interior of your garage dry and clean. Timely replacement of worn or damaged sealing strips can effectively prevent moisture and dust from entering the garage and reduce moisture and pollution in the garage.

3. Extend the life of your door: A good seal not only helps maintain the interior environment of your garage, but it can also reduce wear and corrosion on other parts of your door. By timely replacement of sealing strips, the service life of the garage door can be extended and the frequency of repairs and replacements can be reduced.

4. Improved energy efficiency: Worn or damaged seals can cause your garage door to be less energy efficient, making it difficult to control the temperature inside your garage. Timely replacement of sealing strips can improve energy efficiency, reduce energy waste, and save energy costs.

Therefore, when the sealing strip of the garage door is found to be worn or damaged, it should be replaced in time to ensure that the internal environment of the garage is dry and clean, and to ensure the normal operation and service life of the garage door.

Clean drainage system

Checking the drainage system around the garage door to ensure smooth drainage is one of the important steps in summer garage door maintenance. Here are the steps to check your drainage system:

1. Clean the drain openings: First, clean the drain openings around the garage door to make sure there are no debris or blockages affecting drainage.

2. Check your gutters: Check that your gutters are clean and don’t have a large accumulation of dirt or clogs. If necessary, clean gutters and ensure clear drainage.

3. Check drain pipes: Check drain pipes for leaks or blockages. If problems are found, repair or clean the drainage pipes in time.

4. Adjust the drainage slope: Make sure the drainage slope is appropriate so that water can flow smoothly into the drain outlet or drainage system.

5. Check the connections of the drainage system: Check whether the connections between the drainage system and the walls and floor around the garage door are tight to prevent water from seeping into the interior of the garage through gaps.

6. Clean the drainage system: Clean the drainage system regularly, especially during rainy summer months, to ensure smooth drainage.

By regularly inspecting and maintaining the drainage system around your garage door, you can ensure smooth drainage, prevent water from leaking into the garage, keep the interior of the garage dry, extend the service life of your garage door, and reduce the frequency of repairs and replacements.

Cleaning the gutters, drain holes and rainwater buckets is one of the important steps in maintaining your garage door. It can effectively prevent water accumulation from causing moisture and corrosion inside the garage. Here are the steps to clean your drainage system:

1. Clean gutters: Use a broom or vacuum cleaner to clear away debris and standing water in your gutters to make sure they are clear.

2. Clean the drainage hole: Check whether the drainage hole is blocked by debris. If so, please clear the blockage to ensure that water can flow out smoothly.

3. Clean the rainwater bucket: Check whether there is accumulated water or debris blocking the rainwater bucket. If so, please clean it to ensure that the rainwater can be drained smoothly.

4. Check the connections of the drainage system: Check whether the connections between the drainage system and the floor and walls are well sealed to prevent water from seeping into the interior of the garage through gaps.

5. Regular cleaning: Clean gutters, drainage holes, and rainwater buckets regularly, especially during rainy seasons, to ensure that the drainage system is always clear.

By regularly cleaning gutters, drainage holes, and rainwater buckets, you can prevent accumulated water from causing moisture and corrosion inside the garage, keep the interior of the garage dry and clean, extend the service life of the garage door, and reduce the frequency of repairs and replacements.

Conclusion

Summer garage door maintenance is essential to ensure the long-term reliability and safety of your garage door. Regular maintenance can extend the life of your garage door, and reduce the frequency of repairs and replacements while improving energy efficiency and keeping the interior of your garage dry and clean. Therefore, car owners are encouraged to perform regular garage door maintenance to ensure the long-term reliability and safety of their garage doors.You can also contact us today for all your garage door problems.