Happy Spring everyone! You know what that means, its time for my annual spring cleaning post. There is some seasonal maintenance that needs to be done for any garage door in order for it to stay in great condition all year ‘round. There is also regular maintenance and cleaning that needs to happen inside your garage as well!
1. Wash Your Door
Every Clopay door has a lifetime warranty on the paint system which is an incredible guarantee. However, for this warranty to remain true, you need to make sure that your door is cleaned and waxed at least twice a year. This might seem weird and labor intensive, but it’s really not too difficult!
I just fill a bucket with warm water and car wash, ang scrub the door down with a vehicle brush. Then just spray it down and let it air dry. Make sure to open your door panel by panel so that you can use a cloth to wipe between the panels and use that same cloth to wash under the weather stripping.
That’s really the most complicated part of the whole process though, and it makes my door look WAY better. My door faces our alleyway so even though I don’t need my door to be clean to maintain the look of the front of my home, it still is nice to drive up to a nice, clean door instead of a mud and dirt caked door like it gets throughout the muddy winter months.
2. Wax Your Door
Just as your door needs to be cleaned, it needs to be waxed. This is just as easy as washing your door though so take heart! You can just use vehicle wax to do this and any regular lint free cloth. Again, make sure to get in between each panel and under the weather stripping to ensure that the door is fully protected against the elements.
Waxing your door helps maintain the color by protecting it from becoming bleached by the sun. It also protects the paint from abrasive dirt and dust that can wear the finish after extended exposure.
3. Check Your Door Seals
I do this at the start of each season, but especially during spring and fall. As the weather gets warmer, all the little critters like mice and rats like to try and chew their way through the seals to see what there is to eat inside a garage.
Make sure to inspect your seals and shove a little steel wool in the ends. If they show signs of cracking, or nibble marks, measure the length of your door, cut a piece of seal off the end and bring it into us and we will sell you a new length of seal!
4. Clean Your Photo Eyes
I don’t know about you, but at the end of the winter, my photo eyes are filthy! Just take a little cloth and wipe away any dirt or grime that may have built up on the lenses. If the lenses are occluded then the photo eye sensors will think that there is something standing under the door, and it won’t let your door close.
If you are wiping your photo lenses periodically then you shouldn’t have that issue, and your life will be easy! Well, maybe not entirely, but in that respect it will be. You’re welcome.
5. Lubricate
The last thing that you should do during the spring is to lube your wheels, hinges and tracks. Make sure to use a damp cloth, or a vacuum to clean any dirt and debris that has landed on your tracks and hinges over the last few months first.
That way you are starting with a clean surface Next get a silicone lubricant (can be purchased in person at Hung Right Doors, or we could ship you some) and smear it on the rollers, and the joints on the hinges. This will keep your door running smoothly, and quietly for months on end!
All of these spring cleaning and maintenance chores are pretty simple to accomplish, and can probably be done in a single afternoon. Taking an hour or two to take care of your garage door will help you to avoid emergencies, and costly visits outside of a regular service and professional maintenance!
Of course, have you ever an emergency, or if you simply need help troubleshooting an issue, give us a call. We are at your service!