Your garage door, like any other part of the house, can get damaged. When this happens, it can be inconvenient and even expensive. We have talked about garage door maintenance in the past, and how a little bit of work can save you money and headaches in the long run. Now we are going to go over 5 causes of garage door damage and how to prevent them, so you can get the most out of your garage door.
Your vehicle.
One of the major causes of dents on the garage door panel that can cause further damage is vehicles running into the garage door. Dented garage door panels can lead to further stress on the garage door springs and/or have the garage door jump the garage door track. Pay attention to the proximity of your vehicle in regard to the garage door. Also, be patient and wait for the garage door to fully open before driving through. If you try to time the opening of your garage door you could damage the door and your vehicle.
Weather.
Houston weather can be brutal to your garage door. The humidity can rust metal parts including springs, hinges, rollers, and garage door tracks. This is one reason garage door maintenance is so important. Twice a year you want to make sure you lubricate all your metal parts to your garage door. Also, sun can fade the paint of your garage door. Rain and flooding can also cause damage to the bottom of the door and the weatherstripping if it gets submerged in water.
Electrical Surges.
In Houston, we have surges of electricity during the summer and during storms. These electrical surges can sometimes blow fuses inside the garage door motor, or even fry the circuit board. There are two things you need to do to prevent issues from electrical surges. The first is to plug your garage door opener into its own surge protector outlet. The second is if you do not have an opener with a battery backup, you should consider getting a battery backup for your garage door opener. This way your opener can stay running when power goes out and have a smoother transition of power when the power comes back on.
Not Performing Garage Door Maintenance.
We have stressed over and over again that garage door maintenance is the key to a lasting garage door and garage door opener. Performing a little maintenance twice a year and taking care of any small problems you find while doing your maintenance check really will save you time and money in the long run.
Ignoring the Small Problems.
Just because you should do garage door maintenance twice a year, does not let you off the hook for the rest of the year. If you notice your garage door spring rusting and it’s summertime, don’t wait until the fall to lubricate it, especially if it wasn’t lubricated in the spring. If you notice your garage door is slightly crooked, don’t wait until you can’t open it or close it properly to do something about it. Waiting puts more stress on the rest of the garage door system, wearing down your motor faster and putting more stress on your garage door springs. Not ignoring your problems will save you time and money in the long run as well.
Garage door damage happens, and when it does in Houston, Spectrum Overhead Door LLC can give you fast, affordable garage door repair service in Houston. We have been giving this award-winning service since 2006. Call us for a free quote at 281-748-9542 or 713-557-3407 if you are in the East side of Houston.