The key to prevention often lies in regular maintenance. This applies to everything, mechanical or otherwise. Look no further than your own body. Eating healthy and exercising are means of performing routine maintenance on your body. For the commercial doors at your business, preventative maintenance can keep your mechanical systems operating efficiently and help avoid costly replacement.

SIGNS THAT MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED

Since you cannot just ask a garage door what is causing it to under perform, you need to be able to recognize the signs that you might need commercial garage door maintenance. Some of these signs are easy to spot, and some require a keen eye and experience to catch before they become larger, costlier problems to deal with.

A heavy door is one of the first signs to look for that can point to required maintenance. If your door feels too heavy to lift manually, it has nothing to do with the actual weight of the door and everything to do with the springs that aid in the open and close motion. A heavy door is a sign that there's not enough tension in the springs.

Another major sign that maintenance might be required can be assessed by ear. If your garage doors are operating at louder levels than normal, it might be time for commercial garage door maintenance. Excessive creaking or visible straining could be signs of an issue with your springs, the opener bracket, or the opener motor itself.

Finally, a door that moves too quickly or too slowly is cause for concern. As a garage door or roll-up door ages you are more likely to notice this. Be on the lookout for sticky wheels and increased friction. Even though these are minor issues, they could deteriorate and lead to bigger issues in the future if left unchecked.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR COMMERCIAL GARAGE DOORS

Whether you've noticed some of the signs above or simply believe in the power of commercial garage door maintenance, there are routine tips that can help you keep those doors in working order without any downtime.

The first thing you can do is perform a visual check of your commercial doors. Look for loose hardware on the door, track and frame, such as nuts and bolts. It's also a good idea to check the lifting cables for signs of wear, such as frayed strands. In the short term, frayed strands can cause the door to be out of alignment. Over the long haul, frayed cables could snap and render the door completely inoperable.

If you are hoping to avoid hiring a professional for commercial garage door maintenance, you can also keep an eye on the overall lubrication of your doors. All bearings in the spring shaft and track rollers (with the exception of black plastic rollers) should be lubricated on a regular basis to aid in smooth operation. Avoid using grease for this process, and instead turn to a silicone based spray or a light lithium-based grease.

BENEFITS OF REGULAR COMMERCIAL GARAGE DOOR MAINTENANCE

An effective preventative maintenance plan for your commercial garage doors not only ensures that everything operates efficiently during the business day, it also keeps all employees and customers of the business safe when they are coming and going from your location. Regular commercial garage door maintenance not only promotes better overall operation, it also helps avoid costs associated with replacement or major repairs