Roll-up door maintenance checklists are one of the most common and popular types of garage doors. These garage doors are also highly functional since they don’t occupy a lot of space when they open.
However, since these doors have a lot of moving parts, they need proper and regular maintenance for their smooth and safe operation. This is why we have prepared a roll-up door maintenance checklist for you.
- Visual Inspection: The first step in this checklist is performing a visual inspection.
- Lubrication: Next, you should lubricate all the moving parts of the door, including hinges, rollers, etc.
- Balance and Seals Check: Then you should check the balance, seals, and the safety mechanism of the door to ensure the garage’s safety and cleanliness.
- Electrical Components Check: Finally, you should check all the electrical components of the door if you have an automatic one.
Let’s take a detailed look at our maintenance guide for roll-up doors.
How to do roll-up garage door maintenance
Unlike traditional garage doors, the roll-up garage door doesn't open outside. Instead, it is a garage door that rolls up and around a drum when opened, which saves you a lot of space, especially in front of your home.
This is what has made them so popular among people. But there is a catch regarding roll-up doors. The only way to ensure the smooth and safe operation of these doors is by regular maintenance.
But how should you go about it? Fret not, as we have prepared a step-by-step guideline for you to follow regarding DIY roll-up door maintenance. Here it is:
- Visual Inspection
Before touching the door for maintenance, you should first inspect the door visually. You can see if there are any visible damages in the door’s panels or any other part.
You can also detect if there is something wrong with the tracks and hinges and if they have any dents. Additionally, check whether the door is perfectly aligned and level.
- Lubricating the parts
Once you are satisfied with the visual inspection of the garage door, you should start the maintenance by lubricating the moving parts. These parts include the hinges, rollers, and especially the garage door springs.
Doing so will ensure the door is moving smoothly and the parts aren't being worn down by constantly rubbing against each other.
While lubricating, you must avoid lubricants that are based on oil. This is because these lubricants attract a lot of dirt and grime, which is counterproductive. The best lubricants for roll-up garage door parts are silicone-based ones.
- Cleaning the door
Lubricating the door and its parts alone will not ensure the smooth opening and closing of the door. You should also clean the door seal to increase its aesthetics and functionality.
The aesthetic part speaks for itself. However, it is also very necessary to clean the doors for proper operation. Debris and cobwebs can sometimes block the view of the garage door sensors, leading to the door being only closed halfway and then going back up.
- Testing the balance of the door
The balance of the garage doors is one of its most important aspects. To see if the door is perfectly balanced and you are safe from damage, you should disconnect the door from the roll-up garage door opener. Next, lift the door halfway manually.
If the balance of your garage door is okay, then it will stay in place. If it doesn’t, then there is something wrong with the springs or cables that need to be addressed immediately.
- Checking the garage door seals
Garage door seals are one of the most important parts. They keep the garage clean and safe from pests. So, when you are performing maintenance on the garage door, you should check these seals to see if they are in good condition.
If not, then make sure you replace them as soon as possible.
- Testing the safety mechanisms
The safety mechanisms of the garage doors are in place to ensure the absolute safety of homeowners. These mechanisms include the auto-reverse function, the photo sensors, and the emergency release.
Test each and every one of these to make sure your door is safe for you to operate.
- Checking the electrical components
Finally, if you have an automatic garage door, you will have a lot of electrical components. These components, such as the logic board, the control panel, the switches, and the remote control, are integral to the operation of the garage door.
You have to check every single one of these components to ensure all of them are working properly.
If you see that anything is out of place or not working in your garage door during maintenance, you shouldn’t try to fix it yourself. You must always call a professional garage door repair service to repair your garage doors.
The goal of our roll-up door maintenance checklist is for you to be able to perform routine maintenance on your garage door before something happens.
If you feel that you can’t do a maintenance check on your garage door, or some things are beyond your understanding, all you need to do is call us and book our services.
FAQ
How often should I inspect my roll-up doors?
The frequency of the maintenance check on roll-up doors depends a lot on the usage of these doors. In general, you should inspect your roll-up doors once or twice per year.
What are the signs that my roll-up door needs maintenance?
There are a few telltale signs that show that your roll-up door needs maintenance. These include:
- Loud noises: when closed or opened
- Vibrating or jerking movements
- Garage door moving a little then stopping
Can I perform roll-up door maintenance myself?
You can perform roll-up garage door maintenance yourself. However, if the damages are too severe, then you should contact a professional, just to be safe.