Your garage door is the largest moving part of your entire home and is used several times a day, at all times and in all seasons. To keep your garage door running smoothly for decades, it is very important that you take the necessary precautions: it is time for regular preventive care and maintenance. Winter conditions matter the most for garage benchmark doors and windows, so we've put together 10 proactive tips to monitor the telltale signs that maintenance is needed and  prepare your garage door for  unfavorable seasonal conditions.

1. Look and Hear

The most important preventative step you can take is to watch your benchmark doors and windows in action every time you use it. Does it move smoothly or does it move jerkily in places? Does it run quietly or does it make grinding or squeaking noises

2. Tighten up the Hardware

The average garage door moves up and down over k times a year. That’s loads of movement and vibration, which might loosen the hardware. Examine and tighten all roller brackets and bolts with a socket wrench.

3. Test the balance of the garage door

If your garage door is not properly balanced, your garage door opener will have to work harder and won't last as long. After releasing the opener by pulling the release handle (usually a red wire), manually move the gate about halfway. If it doesn't stay in place, the "feathers" are poorly balanced

4. Check and replace rollers

Pulleys, whether steel or nylon, should be inspected twice a year and replaced about every seven years, more so if you use your garage door many times a day. Worn, broken, or cracked rollers should be replaced as soon as possible. To do this, remove and reinstall any pulley carriers that are not directly connected to the cable system.

5. Replace weatherstrip

If the rubber weather seal strip on the all-time low of your door is brittle or cracked, replace it promptly to stay the weather out of your house. There are many various types of bottom rubber, counting on the manufacturer of the benchmark doors and windows. decide your native garage door is skilled to search out the proper variety of rubber for your door.

6. Lubricate moving parts

Keeping your garage door parts lubricated will add years of continuous operation to your system, and it only takes  10 minutes a year! Use a spray lubricant available from your garage door specialist to coat all  moving parts, including the raised spring.

7. Check the cables

You should never play with the power lines that raise the gate as they are powerful enough  to maim and kill. But you can check your state to find out when you should hire a professional. Look for broken threads and damage near the lower reel mount.

8. Examine the safety features for auto-reverse.

To test  mechanical operation: Place a piece of wood or  brick on the floor in the doorway. If the descending door  touches this object, it must reverse direction and go back up.

To test the photoelectric system with beams at every side: shut your door and simply pass your leg within the door’s path. Your door ought to reverse.

9.  Groom Your Garage Door

Don't forget to examine the door itself. benchmark doors and windows  need to be inspected for water damage and warping, as well as chipped and peeling paint. Steel doors may show rust spots that need sanding, priming and painting. Wash your garage door regularly with a mild all-purpose cleaner while cleaning your car.