The Life Expectancy of a Garage Door

In general, a garage door can last up to 30 years, which is a pretty long time. The door itself is usually coated, so it is highly resistant to rust. Wooden doors are also treated with various chemicals that prolong the life of the wood. Fiberglass doors can last a lifetime if you don’t abuse them.

However, the springs on your garage door usually last between 5,000 and 20,000 cycles. Torsion springs, for instance, usually last 15,000 to 20,000 cycles, while extension springs only around 5,000 to 10,000 cycles. Of course, this depends on the quality of the springs and on their manufacturer as well. Depending on how often you use your garage door, the springs can start having problems after just 3 or 4 years.

The opener is also relatively sensitive, as it has a lot of moving parts and is under a lot of stress every time you open and close the garage door. An opener should last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. However, lower quality openers can start having problems after just 4 or 5 years. Again, it depends on the manufacturer of the opener and the quality of its parts.

The Common Problems With Garage Doors

Some of the most common problems with garage doors are caused by sensors, tracks and transmitters. If the photo eye sensors are misaligned or are dirty, the door will refuse to close. These sensors are used to detect if anything is underneath the door and must be perfectly aligned with each other and able to transmit their invisible beam.

If the tracks are misaligned, you have a serious problem on your hands. Tracks that are out of alignment prevent the door from opening and closing as it should. Even if they may not prevent the door from operating, poorly aligned will place a lot more stress on other parts of the door, such as the springs and opener. In other words, misaligned tracks can cause damage to other, more expensive parts of your garage door over time.

The transmitter may start to send commands to the door on its own or may simply stop working for no apparent reason. If this happens you may have to reprogram the transmitter.

The springs on your door are responsible with opening and closing the heavy door. As such, they are under a lot of tension and are usually the first parts that will break. In case one of the springs snaps, you are advised to replace both springs as a pair.

The opener is also a very sensitive part of the door. It commands the door to open and close and is also under a lot of tension when the door is operating. This means that it will eventually start malfunctioning due to wear and tear.

How to Extend the Life of Your Garage Door?

There are a few simple things that you can start doing today that will extend the life expectancy of your garage door and its various components. Of course, nobody knows exactly how many cycles your springs and opener can operate until one of them breaks. There are no guarantees, but you can get the most out of your garage door by applying these tips from experienced garage door repair experts:

• Keep the door lubricated. The springs, hinges and rollers of the door must be lubricated periodically. It is a good idea to lubricate these parts every three months. A garage door expert can do it for you as part of a maintenance package.
• Keep the garage door clean. It is as simple as washing both sides of the door with a sponge and some warm water and soap. Also clean the photo eye sensors when you wash the door.
• Eliminate all debris from the garage door tracks.
• Periodically check the weather stripping to make sure it is not cracked.
• Keep the door balanced. A garage door that is out of balance will place undue stress on various parts. You should check the balance of the door twice every year.
• Periodically check the safety features of the door. Command the door to close and then place your hand in front of the photo eye sensor; the door should stop and reverse immediately. Also, try to prevent the door from closing by using both hands; the door should stop and reverse as soon as it senses resistance.
• Check the cables on the bottom roller bracket and make sure there are no broken strands.

An Expert Can Help You

A garage door repair expert in Roswell, GA can help you keep your garage door in tip top shape and extend its life expectancy. A professional can perform periodic maintenance services and check the door for any signs of problems. An expert knows exactly what to look for and how to maintain a garage door in perfect working order. Also, it is always best to fix or replace any problematic part before it gets a chance to damage other – more expensive – parts of your garage door.