Essential Tips To Improve Your Garage Door Functionality

When prioritizing home improvement projects, many homeowners don’t give much thought to their garage door. Besides the occasional garage door repair and maintenance, taking some time to upgrade your garage door can enhance its functionality and improve its overall safety and security.

If your garage is used daily, proper maintenance and appropriate upgrades such as smart garage door opener installation are necessary to minimize the risk of injury and damage and maximize its operational efficiency. With that in mind, here are some essential tips to improve your garage door functionality and efficiency; 

Inspect Regularly, Be Alert 

Your garage door has plenty for moving parts that are subject to wear and tear every time it’s opened and closed. So before you even start making practical upgrades, always be on the lookout for signs of damage. Keep your eyes and ears open and alert to any unusual sounds, movements, vibrations, stalling or jerking. 

Your garage door needs to move smoothly with no signs of grinding, scrapping or jerking. If you detect any of the unusual sounds and moves, consult a garage door repair expert for help. Additionally, consider doing full garage door inspections at least twice per year to catch any developing issues at an early stage. Make an inspection checklist for cables, rollers, levers, pulleys, brackets, hinges, locks, handles, etc. 

Regularly Lubricate moving door parts

The weight of the garage door often places a lot of pressure on moving parts such as springs, rollers, gears, and flexible joints. Thankfully, you can lubricate most of the moving parts on your own to minimize wear and tear and improves the door’s efficiency Areas that you will need to lubricate at least once a year include springs, chains, hinges, pivot joints, and rollers.  ‘

Inspect Cables and Garage Weather-stripping

These two are probably the most neglected parts of the garage door by many homeowners. Your garage door relies on high-tension cables to lift it. Damage to these cables will not only impair its functionality but can also cause serious injuries. As you inspect the cables, report any damages to a professional garage door repair expert for assistance–don’t attempt to repair the cables by yourself as it can be quite dangerous.

Weather-stripping runs along the bottom and perimeter of your garage door and it’s meant to keep out the cold, dirt and dust. Any significant air leakage can cause a strain on your heating system in winter and cooling system in summer, and this can potentially bloat your energy bills. The seal often becomes brittle over time and can sometimes break –inspect it regularly and have it replaced or repaired whenever necessary.

Upgrade to a Quieter, Garage Opener

If you have the older chain-drive or screw-drive type of garage door opener, chances are noise is one of your major concerns. A noisy garage door can be quiet a bother especially if it’s under or adjacent to the living room or bedroom spaces. If this is one of your concerns, consider a new belt-drive garage door opener installation, which tends to be quieter than the other options. Belt-drive garage door openers also typically have fewer moving parts, reducing the need for maintenance.

Install a Smart Garage Door Opener

The opener system is literally the heart of your garage door, and so changing it can significantly boost the functionality of your garage door. With the advancement in modern technology, companies are now developing advanced garage door openers with a wide range of smart capabilities.

Companies like Chamberlain and LiftMaster have smart openers that can connect to the internet and allow you to monitor and control your garage door remotely. For instance, while at the office, you can check whether or not you closed your garage door, and remotely close or open it via a smartphone app.

These are just a few adjustments you can make to your garage door to improve its functionality and potentially its durability. Most importantly, perform regular inspection for any loose connections, worn out or rusty areas, and any signs of wear and tear. If you catch any issues, be sure to immediately report to a professional garage door repair expert for expert help.

If you’re looking to make major upgrades to your door, such as making it smatter or quieter, you don’t have to replace the entire door –simply hire a professional garage door repair expert to replace your current opener with a compatible smarter and quieter model.