Overhead garage doors came to transform and make our lives easier. Who doesn’t appreciate being able to open the garage door from the comfort of your vehicle, especially when driving with small kids or during the rainy season?
For many of us, automatic garage doors are our best friends. They keep us safe and can drastically change our home’s aesthetic and provide more comfort. However, like any other part of our house, garage doors have a life expectancy of usage. In this article, we’re going to review how long a garage door lasts and what actions you can take to prolong its life.
Average Garage Door Lifespan
It’s estimated that Americans open and close their garage doors around 1,500 times per year and for a garage door opener to last between 10,000 and 20,000 cycles. Translating it into years, garage doors should last between 15 and 30 years, depending on the following factors:
- Maintenance frequency
- Construction quality
- Weather
- Daily usage
- Door quality and material
- Garage door opener type
One of the main components from the garage door opener that usually influence the number of cycles it’s supposed to last is the torsion springs. A cycle is measured every time the door opens and closes. In years, 10,000 cycles will last anywhere between three years and 15 years; this means that during the lifespan or your garage door, you’ll probably have to replace the torsion springs at least two times.
Reliable garage door openers and proper maintenance can extend the life closer to 15 years.
How Can You Extend Your Garage Door’s Lifetime?
The secret for long-lasting garage doors is preventive and regular maintenance. Doing so will maintain its maximum performance, regardless of the brand, and save you money from expensive repairs. Maintenance may include:
- Cleaning the door itself, and depending on the material, painting it and waxing it too
- Cleaning and lubricating the garage door opener parts, especially the most critical ones like the torsion springs
- Cleaning the sensors
- Lubricating rollers and hinges
- Replacing damaged parts
The owner can perform many of the maintenance actions. Cleaning and washing the garage door, for example, can be done twice a year with the use of water and a mild detergent. Be careful with the type of lubricants used on the door springs, rollers, and hinges. Heavy oils can affect their performance as they tend to accumulate more grime and dirt.
Consider getting your garage door professional inspected and maintained too at least once a year. Although Federal laws, since 1993, have mandated the use of electronic eyes as an additional safety feature for all garage doors. A faulty and old garage door opener can suddenly close and injure a child or a pet. If you notice the door is making weird noises or having troubles when opening or closing, without a doubt, you should contact a professional for help.
Rose Quality Garage Doors: The Local Experts
Rose Quality Garage Doors has been providing garage door installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance services for over a decade in Middle Tennessee, serving 15 counties, including Cheatham, Robertson, Dickson, Cannon, Davidson, Montgomery, Smith, Trousdale, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Sumner, Marshall, Bedford, and Maury.
Some of the qualities that make us stand out from others are:
Passionate Team
We are passionate about what we do, and on top of everything, safety is our priority. Our team pays close attention to detail, and during the inspection and maintenance appointments, make sure all parts of the garage door opener and the door itself are working correctly.
Attention to Detail
Even small and unnoticed problems can lead to major ones, like a damaged panel, getting a door off the track, door binding, broken springs, etc. Rose Quality Garage Doors can help you prevent these types of damages and more. We have the expertise and knowledge on how all residential and commercial garage doors operate, and how to extend their lifespan.
High-Quality Garage Door Brands
We also work with a wide range of high-quality garage door brands, with multiple designs and features that will increase your home’s curb appeal, save you time, and increase safety. For all your garage door needs, Rose Quality Garage Doors is your local expert.
