6 DIY Garage Door Maintenance Tips For Homeowners

Published on March 12, 2020

Learning how to maintain your garage door is important to ensure that your door not only works correctly but looks great too! Regular garage door maintenance in the spring and fall can help reduce the risks of failure. Our garage door maintenance tips are designed so that anyone can take care of basic maintenance.

Safety Warning: Please keep in mind to use proper safety measures when performing garage door maintenance. Never attempt to try to adjust springs, chains, or bolts on your garage door. This type of maintenance is best left to a trained professional garage door technician.

Tip #1: Clean the Garage Door Exterior

Maintaining the appearance of your garage door will help keep your home’s exterior looking great. Never use a pressure washer on a garage door. The power of the water can strip and remove paint from the door.

To wash the door, fill a bucket with a mild soap and warm water. Spray the door down with a garden nozzle. Wash the door with a soft cloth. Rinse the door and make sure all soap is removed.

Tip #2: Touch-Up Damages

If you notice scratches or paint missing from the door, you want to touch it up to avoid the door from rusting. If rust has already started to appear, use some sandpaper to remove the rust first. Then clean the area and dry it off. Apply the touch-up paint and allow it to dry. Your garage door dealer can assist with obtaining a color-matching touch-up paint.

Tip #3: Inspect the Door

Open and close the garage door. Does it move freely up and down, or does it seem like it slips? Does the automatic door opener motor seem louder? Examine the door on the outside to see if the panels are securely closed and there are no gaps in between them.

Inside the garage, shut the door, turn off the garage door light, and see if you can see sunlight coming in from around the door. If you do, then the door is not properly sealed.

Tip #4: Change Garage Door Opener Batteries

Get into the habit of replacing the garage door opener batteries at least once a year. The last thing you want is to come home on a rainy day and the garage door won’t open because the batteries died.

Tip #5: Replace the Light Bulb and Backup Battery

Some garage door openers have a light bulb and backup battery. To test the backup battery, unplug the garage door opener from the power. Press the button to open the door. If it works, your backup battery still works. If it doesn’t, then you will need to replace the battery. You only need to replace the light blub if it seems dim or flickers.

Tip #6: Upgrade to a New Insulated Garage Door

If your garage door is looking worn or has multiple mechanical problems, you should consider replacing it with a new Neufoam™ insulated garage door from Richards-Wilcox Doors. We offer a wide range of beautiful doors for your home that last a lifetime!

To find your new garage door, feel free to browse our selections online at www.rwdoors.com, try out our “Design a Door” app, and contact us for help finding an authorized dealer in your area today!